Mario Balotelli will not leave Liverpool this summer says agent Mino Raiola

Liverpool misfit Mario Balotelli will not leave Anfield this summer, according to his agent Mino Raiola.

Balotelli, 24, has been widely condemned as one of the flops of the season after a woeful return to English football where he has struck just four goals, only one of which came in the Premier League.

With Liverpool in dire need of further renovation this summer after an underwhelming sixth place finish in the 2014-15 season, the Italy international had been tipped to leave Merseyside as part of Brendan Rodgers' overhaul.

But Raiola insists the widely criticised striker and his club remain on good terms.

"We have talks with Liverpool and he will stay," Raiola told Sky Sports. "I spoke many times with the club and they were happy with his input as a professional."

When asked whether the relationship between Rodgers and Balotelli had improved towards the end of the season, the agent added: "I think Mario['s] did, I cannot speak for Brendan Rodgers. Obviously we are pretty confident it will happen next year."

Balotelli's already disappointing season ended with a whimper, having failed to feature in the club's final four games of the season.

Talk of a return to Italy has never been far off when the discussion of Balotelli's future has arisen but there have been few takers with solid interest. Sampdoria would appear to one of the few sides ready to take a chance on the ex-Manchester City and Milan striker, after their club president Massimo Ferrero admitted he would love to partner him with former Everton star Samuel Eto'o, who joined the club last January.

"Balotelli is a great name," Ferrero told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli. "He'd suit a lot of teams. I'd take him at Sampdoria in a heartbeat. A partner of Eto'o-Balotelli would be fantastic."

Liverpool have recently confirmed renewed deals for defenders Andre Wisdom and Kolo Toure but are expected to make changes to their squad personnel over the coming months.