Photo: WENN.com

Mario Balotelli has compared himself to Jimi Hendrix, saying he is the football version of the maverick guitarist.

Hendrix, who is widely regarded as one of the best guitarists of all time, might not be the most obvious comparison for Balotelli however the player had the confidence to draw the parallels when he met local group The Rainband.

Confirming their meeting with the Italian striker, the band told The Sun Balotelli had said, “I’m just like Jimi Hendrix but on a football pitch.”

Balotelli may liken himself to Hendrix on the pitch but his musical tastes are strictly hip-hop, with the footballer spending time with US star Drake earlier this year as well as appearing in a video for local rapper RIO.

Meanwhile, an unofficial biopic of Hendrix's life is currently being made with Outkast's Andre 3000 in the lead role.

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