AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has conceded that Mario Balotelli hasn’t done enough this season to earn a permanent move to the San Siro.
The Italian striker returned to the Rossoneri last summer in a season-long loan deal, but a combination of a troublesome injury and poor form has led to the likelihood that he will return to Liverpool in the summer.
Despite being restricted to just 17 appearances in all competitions this season, the 25-year-old has produced just three goals, and it simply isn’t enough to warrant a full-time return to the club that he supported as a child and enjoyed success with during his first spell.
Galliani has conceded as much, but has left the door open for the former Inter star to prove to them in the final few weeks of the season that he can still make an impact.
“Mario is fine now,” Galliani told reporters in Milan, as noted by Football Italia.
“He has a crazy desire to stay at Milan, and I hope he proves it on the pitch. Mario wants to stay here, but I’ve told him that based on what he’s done so far, he doesn’t deserve to stay here.
“I told him to convince us to keep him here, because we love him. He promised that he’ll do that, and I hope he does.”
It is another disappointing chapter in Balotelli’s career, but in his defence, his attitude and approach this season has been much more positive compared to previous years.
The Italian international has evidently made an effort to make the most of his opportunity, and for a period at the start of the season prior to his injury setback, he showed signs of making a decisive impact for Sinisa Mihajlovic.
However, the injury that sidelined him from September to January took its toll, and he now has just seven Serie A games and the Coppa Italia final to make his mark which is unlikely to be enough time.