Besiktas coach Senol Gunes has revealed that he has no interest in signing Liverpool forward Mario Balotelli this summer.
The 25-year-old spent last season on loan at AC Milan, but failed to convince the Italian giants that he deserved a permanent deal.
In turn, he now faces an uncertain future again this summer, with Jurgen Klopp unlikely to have a role for him at Anfield moving forward.
While Besiktas appeared set to offer him an escape from Merseyside with yet another fresh start, with chairman Fikret Orman saying that he wanted the Italian international, it doesn’t appear as though his coach feels the same way.
“There were also rumours about Aleksandar Kolarov but he wasn’t in my plans,” he said on Saturday, as noted by FourFourTwo.
“Balotelli isn’t in my plans either. I don’t have a favourable view of Mario Balotelli. I have never expressed a positive insight on him.”
FFT add that Balotelli has also been linked with a move to Ajax in recent weeks, and a move to the Dutch giants now appears to be his only option for the time being.
Although the former Milan striker showed the right attitude and approach last season, injury and a lack of form conspired against him as he managed just three goals in 23 games in all competitions.
Not for the first time, there are now doubts over where he goes next to try and fulfil his potential, but as he continues to mature and push to finally prove his worth, it is hoped that another top club in Europe gives him an opportunity to impress.