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Mario Balotelli says he hopes to play for Liverpool this season.

And the returning Italian striker has taken a swipe at Brendan Rodgers, describing his relationship with the former Reds boss as “disastrous.”

Balotelli is back on Merseyside following the completion of a season-long loan with AC Milan. The 25-year-old was due to report for pre-season training at Melwood on Saturday morning, and could feature in the Reds’ friendly schedule, which begins at Tranmere on Friday night.

The likelihood is that the former Manchester City man will be offloaded by Reds manager Jurgen Klopp, who does not view him as part of his plans.

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But Balotelli, who has expressed his belief that he will win a Ballon d’Or one day, has not given up on his Anfield career yet.

“I hope to play at Liverpool next season,” he told Corriere della Sera. “Milan decided to leave me. There will certainly not be another Mario’s back again moment there.”

Balotelli made 28 appearances during his sole season at Liverpool, scoring four times. His relationship with Rodgers, who had hoped to unlock the former Manchester City man’s unique talent, was strained to say the least.

“I had a fantastic rapport with everyone, including the Presidents, Massimo Moratti and Silvio Berlusconi,” Balotelli said. “It was disastrous only with one… Brendan Rodgers.

“A fight with Roberto Mancini at Manchester City? I was 19 years old and after a tackle on a teammate he pushed me, saying I could’ve hurt the player. That’s it. That happened on the Friday, on the Sunday I was in the starting XI.

“Jose Mourinho liked to put on a show, but he cared for me. He actually enjoyed riling me up because he thought I’d give more on the pitch if I was annoyed. I will only complain about one thing: he didn’t let me play in the Champions League Final. If I had come on, I would’ve scored. I felt it.”

In what was a wide-ranging interview, Balotelli also discussed the portrait painted of him by the media.

He said: "At the end of the day, albeit with a few excesses, I don’t think I deserve all this attention, good and bad. This character has been created around me and I am not allowed to do anything more or less.

“I am not a hypocrite, I do get upset when I end up in the papers for doing something silly, but I don’t like it when they exaggerate in the positive either. Balotelli scores two goals? He’s a phenomenon! I’d just like to be a player like anyone else. Well, maybe a bit better than the others…

“Balotelli is the player. Mario is something else. It’s easier to describe Balotelli than Mario. Balotelli is the character created by the papers: the one who smiles or doesn’t smile, scores a great goal, misses a penalty, doesn’t celebrate and is judged by those who watch him play.

“Mario is a 25-year-old guy who cannot have a normal life, but tries, spending time with his daughter when possible, with friends, family, the PlayStation. Every now and then I tell my friends: what I’d give to swap places with you for a week. Just as long as you don’t create any chaos…

“Great responsibility is more for a person than a player. As a player, I am paid to score goals and I have to do that. Responsibility is in my behaviour. I am trying.

“Being a father is wonderful. I can’t be with Pia all the time, as her mother causes problems, but if I had her at my house every day I’d be the happiest man in the world.”