LIVERPOOL have had a £16 million (RM84 million) bid accepted by AC Milan for Italy striker Mario Balotelli.
Balotelli is thought to want £125,000 a week to move to Anfield and the transfer is nearly complete, subject to personal terms.
Brendan Rodgers had said Liverpool would categorically not be signing the errant Italy striker last month, but has had a change of heart.
Balotelli earlier told Sky Italia: “This will be my last day at Milanello.”
Later, he left Milanello training complex in a red Ferrari. He had lunch after training and stopped to tell reporters: “Nothing is decided yet nothing is black and white.”
Samuel Eto’o is still an option for Liverpool should the Balotelli deal fall through, for any reason.
Balotelli has to be registered by noon today if he is to figure for Liverpool against former club Manchester City on Monday.
It would be a sensational return to the Premier League for the 24-year-old, who left City in 2013.
Balotelli has been involved in a series of scrapes during his career to date, especially during his time in the Premier League.
On the field, he was sent off for Manchester City against Arsenal in 2012 in a defeat that almost derailed their title charge.
And off the pitch, there was the notorious incident when Balotelli set off fireworks in his house, leading to him revealing the famous “Why Always Me?” T-shirt when he scored in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford in 2011.
He also had a set-to with City manager Roberto Mancini on the training ground, and a scrap with Jerome Boateng.
The striker’s agent Mino Raiola flew to England on Wednesday to try to thrash out a deal.
Since returning to Italy, he has scored 30 goals in 54 games, the same amount he scored for City in 80 games.
And it is easy to forget that he has already won four titles in two countries, a Champions League and the FA Cup and Coppa Italia by the age of 24.
A return to England and a fresh start could suit Balotelli. The striker has been subjected to criticism in his home country for a perceived poor attitude during Italy’s World Cup campaign, which ended with the Azzurri flying home at the end of the group stage.
As the most prominent black player in Italy and the first to represent the country at a major tournament, Balotelli has also had to endure regular racist abuse of a kind which is now rare in English stadiums. Daily Mail