Mario Balotelli has claimed that he always believed he would return to AC Milan, after completing his loan switch from Liverpool on Tuesday.

The Italian failed to perform during his 12 months on Merseyside and manager Brendan Rodgers was happy to cut his losses and send the ex-Manchester City man back to Milan until next summer.

"Did I think I would return to Milan? Yes, I always had Milan in my heart and I always had hope that I would return one day," Balotelli told reporters upon completing the move.

"I'm happy to have returned. I have little to say, just that I'm looking forward to train and prove my worth. I'm physically well - I just have to train with the squad. I have a lot of motivation but I just have to work and not speak."

Balotelli was signed in August 2014 for around £16m but scored just one Premier League goal for Rodgers's Reds last term.