Sassuolo confirm they rejected chance to sign Liverpool outcast Mario Balotelli

Sassuolo chief executive Giovanni Carnevali has revealed that the club "refused" an offer to sign Liverpool outcast Mario Balotelli.

The Italian striker was shunned to the development squad by manager Jurgen Klopp, who has informed Balotelli that he is free to leave.

Besiktas and Bologna have been linked with the 26-year-old, but Carnevali has confirmed that Sassuolo will not be trying to lure him to the Mapei Stadium.

"Mina Raiola (the striker's agent) offered us Balotelli, but we refused," Carnevali told RaiSport's Zona11pm show.

Balotelli signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2014 for a fee thought to be in the region of £16m, but failed to make an impact and was sent out on loan to his former club AC Milan last season.