Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Mario Balotelli has no future at Anfield.
The striker, who spent last season out on loan at AC Milan, is back on Merseyside as the Reds begin their preparations for the 2016-17 campaign but Klopp says that it isn't a good "situation" for Balotelli or the club.
"I have spoken to him about this. He's not at the stage of his career where he should be battling with four or five other players for one or two positions," the German tactician told the Telegraph.
"We want him to become the player he was before his injury -- the talent is still there, there's no doubt about it. When we have done the crossing, heading and stuff he's been world class.
"But this is not a situation where he should be battling with other players like this for one position, so it's clear we need a solution.
"There will be a club around who would be happy to have the new Mario Balotelli. I have spoken clearly to the player about that.
"In this case it's obvious. It's now time to make decisions and I try to help Mario to get in the best shape he can be in and we will see what happens."
Despite being told that he has no future, Klopp praised the effort that Balotelli had been putting into preseason training, saying that Liverpool would continue to help the 25-year-old regain form and fitness as his search for a new club goes on.
"I can talk of Mario because that one is obvious. I heard a lot about him ever since I came here," said Klopp.
"But since he has been back here, he's been a good guy and I can't say anything different than that. It's not that he's come back and said 'who's the boss, I'm the boss no sorry it's you.' It's not been that at all. Everything's been good, it's all okay. And now he's here, we will do everything we can to get him fit."
The striker, who spent last season out on loan at AC Milan, is back on Merseyside as the Reds begin their preparations for the 2016-17 campaign but Klopp says that it isn't a good "situation" for Balotelli or the club.
"I have spoken to him about this. He's not at the stage of his career where he should be battling with four or five other players for one or two positions," the German tactician told the Telegraph.
"We want him to become the player he was before his injury -- the talent is still there, there's no doubt about it. When we have done the crossing, heading and stuff he's been world class.
"But this is not a situation where he should be battling with other players like this for one position, so it's clear we need a solution.
"There will be a club around who would be happy to have the new Mario Balotelli. I have spoken clearly to the player about that.
"In this case it's obvious. It's now time to make decisions and I try to help Mario to get in the best shape he can be in and we will see what happens."
Despite being told that he has no future, Klopp praised the effort that Balotelli had been putting into preseason training, saying that Liverpool would continue to help the 25-year-old regain form and fitness as his search for a new club goes on.
"I can talk of Mario because that one is obvious. I heard a lot about him ever since I came here," said Klopp.
"But since he has been back here, he's been a good guy and I can't say anything different than that. It's not that he's come back and said 'who's the boss, I'm the boss no sorry it's you.' It's not been that at all. Everything's been good, it's all okay. And now he's here, we will do everything we can to get him fit."
