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The Arsenal boss ruled out a deal during the World Cup, following talks with Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola, when the former Manchester City striker wouldn't budge on a wage demand of £160k-a-week.

And when Balotelli, 24, dropped his pay target to £90k, Puma - Arsenal's kit suppliers - were prepared to help the Gunners with the deal.

They would then have used Balotelli as a poster boy, but once again Wenger wasn't interested.

City also had first refusal on Balotelli as a buy-back option after selling him to AC Milan for £18 million.

But once again, they had no interest in re-signing the controversial striker.

If his move to Anfield goes through, Milan will have to continue to pay City £4.5 million a year to settle the original deal, which will see the Italian club make a loss on Balotelli.

Madcap Mario spent last week relaxing in Cannes in the south of France, while waiting for his Liverpool move to go through.

City, meanwhile, could do further business in Italy this week with defender Matija Nastasic a £12 million target for Roma.

PLUS

MARIO Balotelli will finalise his £16 million move from AC Milan to Liverpool tomorrow after declaring: You can Bank on me.

Balotelli was mobbed by ecstatic Kop fans when he arrived at the club's Melwood training camp on Friday night and will officially put pen to paper on Bank Holiday Monday.

The hothead Italian's first meeting with new boss Brendan Rodgers was positive with Balotelli promising to be a Goodfella during his Anfield reign.

Balotelli gave full assurances that he would not repeat the mad Mario antics of his spell with Manchester City which was highlighted by his infamous "Why Always Me" T-shirt.

Rodgers was impressed and Balotelli, 24, returned to Melwood yesterday to complete his medical before flying back by private jet to Milan to collect his real baggage - not the failings which blighted his last stay in England.

Balotelli will catch his return flight tomorrow morning when the paper work will be completed in the official surroundings of Anfield.

His Liverpool registration will be delayed 24 hours because of the Bank Holiday and he won't be eligible to play against his former club City tomorrow night at the Etihad.

Balotelli is now expected to make his debut away to Tottenham next weekend and has agreed to a huge pay cut to pull on the red shirt of Liverpool and resurrect his Premier League career.

Balotelli has agreed to a contract which is heavily based on incentives.

He will pocket around £100,000 a week at Anfield - around half of what he picked up at the Serie A giants.

But Balotelli has the chance to top up his mega salary if he triggers a series of performance related and behaviour clauses.

His arrival has already been greeted with enthusiasm by fellow new boy Lazar Markovic who said: "Yes, I'm excited because I love good players and I love to play with good players."

Kop King Kenny Dalglish has also revealed that the whole club are supporting Rodgers' faith and commitment in Balotelli.

He was speaking from experience after bringing back Craig Bellamy to Liverpool after his "chequered" past.

Dalglish said: "He was a model professional in his second spell at Anfield and an example to everyone in how hard he worked.

"The key is that Liverpool know what they are getting. They are not going into this deal with their eyes closed.

"The club is supporting Brendan Rodgers because Brendan wants the player and feels he can be a success."

Balotelli's imminent revival will now finally dismiss any suggestions that Rodgers will sign former Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o.