Nice striker Mario Balotelli has spoken of coming close to joining Barcelona.

He told Radio Monte Carlo that the Blaugrana were interested in him in the past, when he was a youngster. The problem was money.

"The club that had me at the time wanted money," he explained.

He also spoke about his time at Man City and Liverpool. "Manchester City was a dream because there was a very Italian atmosphere. Don't talk to me about Liverpool please. They were a team with stupendous people, fantastic fans, but the place..."