Italian 3rd division side offers Mario Balotelli a lifeline

Italian third-division outfit ASD Lupa Castelli have extended an opportunity for Mario Balotelli to regain his once world-class form following a disastrous year at Liverpool.

Lupa Castelli's president, former AC Milan 'keeper Marco Amelia, claims that a move to the Lega Pro Prima Divisione club would help Balotelli find himself, saying, "Our intention is to bring our friend, Balotelli, here, a player who at this time needs to start afresh because we see that he does not want to play anymore, has fans opposing him and is no longer able to show his quality."

Amelia continued: "Six months here would be useful to him to start the path of purification. I think that at this time Mario needs to find the will he needs to compete. It will be tough, it will be almost impossible as it is something that football has never seen, but he could do it."

Balotelli, who scored one goal in 10 Premier League appearances for Liverpool following his transfer from AC Milan, has been surplus to requirements for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, despite the club's inability to find a consistent scorer since the departure of Luis Suarez.

Now that the Merseyside club has brought in strikers Danny Ings and Christian Benteke during this summer's transfer period, Balotelli has clearly become the odd man out.

The 24-year-old dynamic goal threat has been with four clubs since 2007, but has failed to find a consistent form on the pitch not marred by his controversial displays off the pitch.