Former Liverpool target asks to play alongside Mario Balotelli

Italians Mario Balotelli (right) and Antonio Cassano played alongside each other at Euro 2012

FORMER Liverpool target Antonio Cassano wants to play alongside Mario Balotelli… at Sampdoria.

 

The forwards teamed up together to great success while leading the line for Italy at Euro 2012.

Balotelli is understood to be free to leave Liverpool this summer as manager Brendan Rodgers seeks to trim his playing squad.

 

And Gazzetta dello Sport claim Cassano texted Balotelli in order to convince him to join the Genoese club.

“Come to Sampdoria and you will not regret it,” Cassano’s message reportedly read. “Together we will do great things.”

 

Balotelli, Liverpool's £16million arrival from Milan last summer, has been closely tracked by Sampdoria since January, while Lazio are also interested in the 25-year-old.

But Serie A club Sampdoria cannot afford his £70,000-a-week wages and are reportedly hoping to strike a deal with the Reds over a loan switch.

 

Meanwhile Cassano, 33, joined Sampdoria in January during the fall-out of Parma's financial meltdown, when Liverpool reportedly tried to take advantage.

It is understood he caught the eye of Reds scouts but no offer was ever made.

He was available on a free transfer, which Sampdoria gladly took up as they seek to keep costs low.

Balotelli has reportedly been earmarked as a star loan signing but Liverpool can expect to pay 60 percent of his wages (roughly £42,000 a week) to ship him out for a year.