Mario Balotelli has gotten reprieve from his Liverpool nightmare.

The 25-year-old Italian international is returning back to AC Milan on loan.

Balotelli arrived from the Rosonneri a summer ago for £16 million as Brendan Rodgers looked to replace Luis Suarez's goal production. The Italian struggled mightily at Anfield, scoring only four times in 28 appearances across all competitions. His solitary goal in Barclays Premier League play came in a 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur in February. Balotelli was suspended for one match and fined £25,000 in December by the team when a post on his Instagram account contained racially offensive language.

Balotelli's departure from the Merseyside comes as no surprise. With the acquisitions of attacking options Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings, as well as the recall from loan of Divock Origi, Balotelli became surplus to requirement at Anfield and was forced to train separately from the first team.

The Palermo native returns to a Milan side that lost its opening Serie A match over the weekend, 2-0 to Fiorentina. In 43 appearances across all competitions with Milan in 2013-14 after coming back to Italy after three seasons with Manchester City, Balotelli scored 26 times.

A senior team player since the age of 15 when he debuted with Serie C side Lumezzane, Balotelli was a Champions League winner with Inter in 2010.

As part of the loan deal, Balotelli will take a reduction in wages.