Paolo Di Canio has revealed that he would not even think about signing Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli is out of favour at Anfield after a disappointing debut campaign on Merseyside and is unlikely to feature much for Brendan Rodgers with a potential sale still on the cards.

Di Canio sees the 25-year-old, who had the world at his feet in his early days with Inter Milan, as becoming an unfulfilled potential.

The former West Ham United star was speaking on Fox Sports Italia when asked, with his manager's hat on, if Liverpool striker Balotelli would be a player that interests him.

Ex-Swindon Town and Sunderland boss Di Canio said: "No. I am talking as a manager and my view on football is you need to understand what it means to play with and for your teammates.

"You need to share empathy in good moments and bad moments. It doesn't look like he is doing this.

"Many managers have tried to change him. (Roberto) Mancini was his father in football but even he now doesn't want him back at Inter Milan.

"Mourinho understood at the beginning. He is a very good reader of players and he said that you can't change this guy. Now he is nearly 25, he needs to change himself. He can't rely on other people to help him.

"The demons are in his brain. He is still young, physically he is strong, he is an incredible natural athlete, but he has never used his big potential.

"Sometimes he thinks football is I can keep the ball, show off in some way, and then my teammates have to run for me. No. Football is sacrifice. Football is to bond with your teammates. Not off the field in a bar because you are generous. It is being generous on the pitch.

"He has big potential and I hope in my heart for him that he can turn it around, but I presume it will be very difficult because he spends too much time on social network and it seems he uses football to be a celebrity - not the opposite."