The 24-year-old has underwhelmed since joining Liverpool in the summer for £16 million but his representative played down links with a move back to Italy

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli will not be returning to Italy, his agent Mino Raiola has stated.

The Italian joined the Reds for €20 million in the summer but a combination of poor form and Liverpool’s dismal start to the season has seen him linked with a move back to Italy.

Reports have suggested his former side Inter are now in the hunt for the 24-year-old. Roberto Mancini, who coached the forward at Manchester City and had several fallouts with him at that time, has recently taken over at the Nerazzurri, but Raiola insists he isn’t going to pair up with his former manager at San Siro.

“A return to Inter is impossible. Not because of Mancini, but for other reasons which aren’t worth talking about,” Raiola said.

“Even Napoli [is out of the question]. Mario will not return to Italy.”

Balotelli has struggled to adjust to life at Anfield, scoring just twice in 14 games since moving from AC Milan but his representative believes he will rediscover the form that has seen him labelled as one of the brightest prospects in the game.

Raiola added: “He is lacking goals and he doesn’t run well, but this is a time that must pass. He now has this injury and we hope he recovers as soon as possible.

“The relationship with the team? It is perfect, the English journalists must not be part of his life.”