The former Liverpool and Manchester City striker has hit back to the criticism he faced during his Anfield days. The 26-year-old, who joined the Ligue 1 side Nice on the deadline day, said joining Liverpool was the “worst decision of my life”.

The Italian international was handed his Nice debut last weekend and he scored the brace as side defeated Marseille by three goals to two. Balotelli said he never had a problem with the fans or his team-mates but he didn’t like the actual club i.e. the managers and the people above them.

“I joined Liverpool. It was the worst mistake of my life.

“Apart from the fans, who were fantastic with me, I must be honest, and the players, who I had a good rapport with, I didn’t like the club.

“I had two coaches, Brendan Rodgers and Jürgen Klopp. As people they didn’t make a good impression on me. I didn’t get along with them.”

Balotelli was brought to Liverpool by the former manager Brendan Rodgers, but the former Manchester City striker failed to live the expectation and he eventually was sent on loan to AC Milan, where he only managed one goal in 20 Serie A.

The player’s agent Mino Raiola has made a number of digs at Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp since his client left the club. In one attack he even called him “a piece of sh*t”. Klopp though has refused to take the bait and when asked to respond he merely said: “I’m not interested in things like this. It’s a free world, he can say what he wants.”