Mario Balotelli was given compassionate leave to miss Liverpool's first days of preseason training following the death of his adoptive father.
Balotelli returned to Italy to attend the funeral of Francesco Balotelli, who died following a long illness.
Liverpool began preseason training on Monday, but the former Manchester City forward has been allowed time off following the bereavement.
He is expected to return to the club in time to play a part in their preseason tour of the Far East and Australia, for which they will fly out on Sunday.
Thanks everyone for the support.. I really wanna thanks everybody ❤️. My family thanks all of you too.
- Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) July 5, 2015
Balotelli, 24, left a message on Twitter following Francesco's death, which read: "Thanks everyone for the support. I really wanna thank everybody. My family thanks all of you too."
The Italy international was born to Ghanaian immigrants in Palermo in August 1990, but was placed in foster care at the age of three.
He was adopted by Silvia and Francesco Balotelli, growing up in the town of Concesio, in the northern Italian province of Brescia.