Arsene Wenger has insisted that Arsenal were "never" on the verge of signing Mario Balotelli earlier this summer.

The Gunners were reported to be in advanced talks with the AC Milan striker during the World Cup, with the manager said to have met with the Italy international's agent during the Brazil tournament.

However, the Frenchman said at a press conference: "For weeks we were buying Balotelli from one minute to the other and it was all wrong. We were never in for him. We do not master the noises that come out."

Balotelli joined Milan during the January transfer window in 2013.