Everton owner Farhad Moshiri wanted to sign epic Liverpool flop before last-gasp intervention

Marcel Brands has revealed that he had to prevent Farhad Moshiri from signing Liverpool flop to join attack.

Balotelli moved to Anfield in 2014 following the departure of but never delivered during his time with . He was loaned out to AC Milan the following summer and eventually left after just 28 appearances.

But that didn't stop Everton considering a shock move for the ex-Manchester City striker with Moshiri known for his woeful transfer dealings during his time in charge at Goodison Park.

Brands, now president at PSV Eindhoven, told Algemeen Dagblad about a curveball thrown by the late 'super agent' Mino Raiola during Everton's negotiations to sign Juventus prodigy Moise Kean. He recalled: "Mino said: 'Why not bring Mario Balotelli too, guys? ' That seemed to Raiola to be a great strike duo for the Premier League."

"They were both fast, skillful and strong, and he thought they would also be complementary. After a while he had substantiated his story so beautifully that Moshiri also completely liked it."

However, Brands dismissed the suggestion, aware that signing Kean was already a gamble and adding Balotelli to the equation "was practically asking for trouble". The Dutchman remembers explaining this to Raiola, who apparently took it well.

Brands recounted: "After the game, I went to eat something with Mino. 'You're beautiful you, Brands', Mino said."

"Moshiri wanted to pull out his wallet. But I was responsible for the club's technical policy, for the composition of the selection. The great thing was, if you told Mino the truth to his face, he could handle it very well in the end. But he was super smart, if you let go of the steering wheel for a moment, he would sail in the other direction."

Balotelli has since had spells in France, Turkey, Italy and Switzerland. Now 34, he recently signed a deal with Serie A side Genoa until the end of the season.