• Premier League

Balotelli troubles due to absent daughter

Mario Balotelli has scored just two goals in 12 appearances since his £16m move from AC Milan © Getty Images

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Mario Balotelli is struggling to adapt to life at Liverpool because he misses his young daughter, according to his agent.

Balotelli became a father to daughter Pia in December 2012 and agent Mino Raiola has stated his client is missing regular contact with the child who lives in Italy with her mother.

Rickie Lambert has assumed the lead striking role in the Liverpool team as Balotelli nurses an injury, with his agent stressing he remains committed to finding his feet and proving his worth at Anfield.

"It's wrong to criticise him," Raiola told newspaper Il Corriere dello Sport. "He needs to be given time to adapt at Liverpool. His difficult time is not connected to football, but to the fact he can't see his daughter as much as he would like."

There are already suggestions in the English media that the forward Brendan Rodgers paid 16 million pounds to sign last summer will be heading back to Italy in the next transfer window, but his agent has insisted such a move will not transpire.

"Balotelli will never go back to an Italian team," added Raiola. "I've already made that mistake once, because I listened to him."

Balotelli, who is currently out with a groin injury, has yet to score a Premier League goal for Liverpool and has been criticised by some observers for his uninspiring demeanour on the pitch.

However, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has continued to defend the striker and has insisted he does have a role to play in his plans in the continued absence of lead striker Daniel Sturridge.

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