Juventus coach, Massimiliano Allegri, has denied media reports linking Liverpool’s under-pressure striker, Mario Balotelli, with a move to the Turin giants in the January transfer window.
The Italy international has scored just two goals since joining Liverpool from AC Milan in a £16million transfer in August and has yet to find the back of the net in the Premier League.
Allegri told Italian TV station RAI: “I think this is a made up story. Balotelli has done very well with me but he belongs to Liverpool and he is not a player that can arrive at Juventus.”
Allegri had coached Balotelli at AC Milan before taking over at Juve in July.
Balotelli’s agent, Mino Raiola, has, however, thrown his weight behind the 24-year-old, who has also been linked to French club, Paris St Germain.
He insists that despite Balotelli’s slow start to life at Anfield, the former Inter Milan striker will come good at Liverpool.
Also speaking to RAI, “Mario has been out for almost 10 weeks with an injury and you cannot judge him until he is 100 per cent fit. It’s not easy to go abroad and adapt quickly to a new team.”
“Now he is not doing well at Liverpool for different reasons but Mario is calm and he is working to return to be in top condition. I do not regret this transfer and Mario’s departure from Milan.”
Balotelli is under contract with Liverpool until June 2017.
The striker played almost three seasons at Manchester City before joining AC Milan in January 2013.
