Mario Balotelli: Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre reveals fewer than 1,000 replica Balotelli shirts were bought on day he signed

Would a 'Why Always Me? shirt have sold better?

Mario Balotelli in action during his Liverpool debut against Tottenham (GETTY IMAGES)

He was billed as Liverpool's marquee signing this summer, but the club sold fewer than 1,000 Mario Balotelli replica shirts on the day he signed for the Merseyside club for £16m from AC Milan last month.

The Reds' CEO, Ian Ayre, revealed the figure at the Soccerex conference in Manchester today, speaking at a seminar.

Maybe the Liverpool supporters are just taking bit of time to warm to the maverick Italian striker.

A replica Reds' shirt costs £49.99, and to get 'Balotelli 45' branded across the back is an extra £15.

In contrast, it had been reported that Real Madrid shifted 345,000 James Rodriguez shirts in the 48 hours after his £63m move from Monaco, but manufacturers adidas said that those figures were exagerrated.

Balotelli made his Liverpool debut against Tottenham in the 3-0 win last month, and is expected to make his Anfield bow for the club against Aston Villa on Saturday.