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Nice striker Mario Balotelli has claimed he came close to joining Barcelona earlier in his career.

Once tipped to become one of the best players in the world as a youngster at Inter Milan, Balotelli has failed to fully deliver on his potential.

Since leaving Inter he has played for Manchester City, AC Milan, Liverpool and French outfit OGC Nice, where he currently is.

Balotelli suggested his career might've panned out differently had he signed for Barcelona when he was younger.

“I nearly joined Barcelona, but the club that had me at the time wanted money," Balotelli told RMC.

(Image: Claudio Villa)

(Image: Reuters)

The Italian forward, 26, remembers his two-and-a-half years at City fondly but would rather forget about his ill-fated season at Anfield.

He joined Liverpool from Milan in the summer of 2014 but lasted just a year on Merseyside before being loaned back to the Rossoneri and then signing for Nice on a free transfer last year.

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"Manchester City was a dream because there was such an Italian atmosphere there," said Balotelli, whose manager throughout his time at the Etihad was countryman Roberto Mancini.

Of his spell at Anfield, he added: “Don’t speak to me about Liverpool, please. There was a team with great people, fantastic fans, but the place…”