Yes. José Mourinho really did have a meeting with a Liverpool player, but don’t panic, it wasn’t to buy him.

You see, ever since Mario Balotelli decided to come back to the Premier League after a stint at AC Milan, things haven’t exactly gone to plan.

Brendan Rodgers’ decision to buy the Italian forward raised more than just a few eyebrows, and the deal went exactly as planned: not very well.

There was hope, but one goal in 16 league appearance (four in 28 in all competitions) underlined how the once talented youngster had lost that je ne sais quoi, and a loan back to AC Milan was put in place for the 2015-16 season.

Three goals in 23 appearances and a bad injury later, the player is back in Liverpool and not a part of Jürgen Klopp’s plans.

Balotelli has been linked with a return to Italy, but his personal terms seem to be too much for most clubs, and so he asked one of his former managers for some help.

That man happens to be José Mourinho, now in charge of Manchester United, and Calciomercato claim the informal meeting was just to get some advice, mostly on how to change his attitude and lower his demands to get the transfer he wants.

Let’s not forget Mourinho and Balotelli enjoyed a strong relationship at Inter Milan back in the day, and this meeting is simply a mentor helping his former pupil.

Personally, we find it quite sweet.