Liverpool intentionally crop Mario Balotelli out of 'world class' player tweet to signal early end to his Anfield stay

Balotelli featured in the original picture only for Liverpool's Twitter account to crop him out

Before and after: Liverpool posted a picture (top) that clearly cropped out Balotelli (bottom) (Getty Images)

If Mario Balotelli didn't realise that Liverpool want to sell him this summer, he'll have no doubt about it now after the official Liverpool Twitter account cropped him out of a picture that featured "world class" players.

Balotelli looks set for the Anfield exit after a dismal debut season with Liverpool, with manager Brendan Rodgers deciding to launch moves for Christian Benteke, Danny Ings and Roberto Firmino in the transfer window to give him sufficient back-up to current No 1 Daniel Sturridge.

Both Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini look set to be sold before the transfer window shuts on 1 September, but Balotelli could well follow them if Liverpool’s social media account is anything to go by.

@LFC posted quotes from England midfielder Adam Lallana on how he was looking forward to linking up with “world class” players such as Emre Can, Philippe Coutinho and new signing Christian Beneteke, only the original picture also included Balotelli who had evidently been cropped out of the picture on the left hand side.

Mario Balotelli appeared in the original picture (Getty Images)

The tweet was posted on Saturday afternoon and on the face of things looked to be innocent enough, but a glance at the original picture taken by John Powell of Getty Images clearly shows Balotelli jogging alongside the trio.

The Italian has been linked with a move back to his homeland with Sampdoria believed to be interested, and the striker was left out of the squad that went on the pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia.