Mario Balotelli poses for a picture with Liverpool reserves after training as he continues search for new club
The £16million flop is still at Melwood working with the youngsters while Jurgen Klopp's first team continue their pre-season tour, with Chelsea up next in the US
MARIO BALOTELLI has posted a picture of himself with Liverpool's reserves after a training session.
The £90,000-a-week flop has been working with the youngsters to keep fit while he searches for a new club because he is not in manager Jurgen Klopp's plans.
Despite his dramatic fall from grace, the £16million signing put on a brave face, insisting he had enjoyed a "top quality session".
In a caption attached to the picture, he wrote: "Still working hard with reserve team. Top quality session today with top players. #respect"
The talented bunch of players included the likes of 16-year-old boy wonder Ben Woodburn, who has impressed in pre-season by scoring in Liverpool's 2-0 win at Wigan and in their friendly victory over Fleetwood.
Balotelli, 25, was surrounded by 17-year-old stars Toni Gomes and Kamil Grabara as well as Paulo Alves, 18, Bradley Garton, 18, Kane Lewis, 18, and Corey Whelan, 18.
The training session also featured goalkeeper Andrew Firth, 19, Tom Drewitt, 19, and Harry Wilson, 19, as well as Joe Maguire, 20, and Ben Williams.
Liverpool's first team have a star-studded line-up of friendlies coming up, starting with Chelsea on Wednesday in Pasadena, California, as part of the International Champions Cup.
They will then take on Balotelli's former club AC Milan on Saturday in Santa Clara before heading to St. Louis for a friendly against Roma and then return to England to face Barcelona at Wembley on Saturday August 6.
The Reds' final friendly is a trip to German side Mainz a day later on August 7 before travelling to the Emirates to play Arsenal in their opening Premier League fixture on Sunday August 14.
Coincidentally, Balotelli's post comes five years to the day since he was through on goal for Manchester City in a friendly against LA Galaxy when he produced an infamous back-heeled effort after a 360-degree turn which went horribly wide.
The incident, which took place on 29 minutes, left then-City manager Roberto Mancini fuming, and the Italian boss hauled his £19million flop off in place of James Milner.
Balotelli managed just three goals in 23 appearances for the Rossoneri, including just one in Serie A in September 2015.
The star joined Liverpool from Milan two years ago for £16million but scored just one goal in 16 Premier League appearances before returning to the Italian club on loan.