AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani has told the press that his now former charge Mario Balotelli was very keen to join Liverpool when the opportunity arose this summer, paving the way for his cut price £16 million switch to the Premier League side, as reported by the Daily Express.

Balotelli only moved back to AC Milan a year and a half ago, joining the club that he supported as a child from fellow English side Manchester City. He failed to settle entirely there, however, with a constantly shifting coaching team and issues surrounding racism in Italian stadiums making it difficult for him to make the impact that he was expected to.

He moved on to Liverpool in the summer transfer window, and has settled relatively well at his new club. Despite questions over his mentality, Brendan Rodgers took a risk in signing him, and was rewarded when he scored a key goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 win against Ludogorets in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Galliani revealed how keen he was to make the switch, saying: “We have a good relationship but at a certain point I understood he wanted to leave.

“I consider him to potentially be a really big player and I hope he continues to grow.

“I was very happy for his goal with Liverpool in the Champions League.”

Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has heaped praise on the club’s new addition, Mario Balotelli, who joined the Reds from AC Milan towards the end of the transfer window for £16 million, as reported by the Daily Star.

The Italian international had spent two seasons with the Serie A side, who he supported as a child, before moving to Merseyside.

Balotelli scored his first goal for Liverpool on Tuesday night in the Champions League, the club’s first match in that competition since 2009. His opener sent Liverpool on their way to a 2-1 win against Bulgarian champions Ludogorets, although they required a Steven Gerrard penalty to seal the victory.

While many Liverpool fans have been excited by Balotelli’s display in that clash, another admirer is former Reds boss Houllier, who won a treble of cup competitions with the club while he was in charge.

Houllier said: “He’s a very good centre-forward.

“There’s not many class centre-forwards like him.

“If he settles well in Liverpool, he knows the Premier League obviously, he will be a tremendous asset for the club.”

Liverpool fans received more good news today, with Daniel Sturridge training again after his injury during international duty for England.