Agent: 'Mario Balotelli not leaving Liverpool'

The agent of Mario Balotelli has insisted that his client will not be departing Liverpool this summer.

Widespread speculation has suggested that the striker is not in the future plans of manager Brendan Rodgers, who parted with £16m of the club's money to sign the 24-year-old from AC Milan last August.

Clubs in Balotelli's native Italy, including Sampdoria, have been heavily linked with a move for his services in recent weeks.

However, the player's representative Mino Raiola has stressed that the former Manchester City frontman will remain at Anfield for the start of the 2015-16 campaign.

"No [he won't leave]. He had talks with Liverpool and he will definitely stay," Raiola told Sky Sports News.

Balotelli made 28 appearances in all competitions for the Reds last term, from which he scored just four goals.