Quote:Mario Balotelli offered lifeline by Italian third-tier ASD Lupa Castelli

With his career stagnating after one largely miserable season at Liverpool, it's no secret that Mario Balotelli, or at least his agent, is currently in the process of assessing his career options.

Despite the likes of Inter and AC Milan both reportedly snubbing Balotelli's advances this summer, the wantaway Reds striker has still been offered an escape route back to Italian football -- though not quite at the level he was previously accustomed to.

Indeed, the lifeline has come courtesy of ASD Lupa Castelli, a tiny club that was only formed two years ago and currently plies its footballing trade in Lega Pro (the Italian third tier).

"Our intention is to bring our friend, Balotelli, here, a player who at this time needs to start afresh because we see that he does not want to play anymore, has fans opposing him and is no longer able to show his quality," Marco Amelia, Lupa Castelli's club president, told Sky Italia.

"For Balotelli, this could be the first step towards cleaning up his act, taking two steps back and showing everyone what he is capable of doing."

While accepting that his club may not have the pulling power of others, Amelia reckons that a brief stint in the lower leagues may just do Balotelli the power of good.

"Six months here would be useful to him to start the path of purification," he added. "He must regain humility and enthusiasm that allowed him to break into football matters when he was starting out."

"It will be difficult, almost impossible, but I will try anyway. I hope that the importance of the city of Rome and our friendship helps me."

"I'll try to call Mario Balotelli. On an economic point of view, we'll see what happens. I think that at this time Mario needs to find the will he needs to compete. It will be tough, it will be almost impossible as it is something that football has never seen, but he could do it."

If we're entirely honest, we're not overly optimistic about Lupa Castelli's chances of pulling this one off, though, let's face it, stranger things have definitely happened in the madcap world of Mario Balotelli.