Besiktas: 'Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli wants to join us'

Besiktas president Fikret Orman has revealed that Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli wants to join the Turkish club.

The 25-year-old has been given the green light from manager Jurgen Klopp to leave Anfield this summer.

The controversial Italian failed to make an impact on Merseyside following his £16m move from AC Milan in 2014.

The club loaned Balotelli back to the San Siro club last season, but after a lacklustre campaign, he returned to Anfield and is now training with the development squad at Melwood while his teammates are on a pre-season tour of the United States.

Despite the striker's previous misdemeanours, Orman has claimed that Balotelli has something to offer in Turkey.

"Mario Balotelli is the type of footballer that our fans can associate themselves with," Orman told Fanatik. "I'm pretty sure he would attract great attention.

"To be fair, if he wasn't deemed as a trouble-maker, he wouldn't be rumoured to be joining us, but we can show some effort and create solutions for Balotelli's infamous troubles.

"I think he can change with the attention and care he'll receive in Turkey. In short, we want Mario Balotelli and he wants us too."

Inter Milan have also been linked with a move for the 25-year-old.