AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli cut a lonely figure on Thursday when he wrote on Twitter that he is longing for "true love".

The controversial Italy international, who returned to the San Siro on loan from Liverpool in the summer, has been single for around a year.

The 25-year-old was engaged to model Fanny Neguesha after proposing at the World Cup in Brazil last year, but the couple split shortly after he moved to Anfield last September.

Balotelli tweeted: "What did I do wrong that I can't find true love in a couple?"

The Italian followed up his tweet with the comment: "But was it a joke? It doesn't really work as a joke..."

Balotelli is father to two-year-old daughter Pia with ex-girlfriend Raffaella Fico.