Report: Liverpool's Mario Balotelli on verge of AC Milan return

Liverpool misfit Mario Balotelli could be on his way back to AC Milan on loan after a miserable year on Merseyside.

Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic met with Balotelli in Florence this weekend for talks about a San Siro return, reports La Gazzetta dello Sport, according to ESPN FC.

General manager Adriano Galliani is also quoted, getting misty-eyed over a potential return for the controversial forward.

"I'm not going to comment, but like (Italian singer) Antonello Venditti once said, there are certain loves which go such a long way and then they come back," he said. "And I and the president are both romantic people."

Since moving from Milan last summer for £16 million, the Italian international managed just one Premier League goal in 16 appearances, and has been phased out of the squad by Brendan Rodgers this season after the signings of Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino, and Danny Ings this summer.

Balotelli had a fine record of 26 goals in 43 appearances in his two years with the Rossoneri, and the club is desperate to improve on a 10th-place finish last season.