Italian striker Mario Balotelli is back in Serie A, having signed with Genoa on a free transfer after leaving Turkish club Adana Demirspor. The 34-year-old, once famous for his antics on and off the field, has returned to his home country after a three-year absence.
Balotelli, who previously played for top clubs like Manchester City, AC Milan, and Liverpool, now joins a struggling Genoa side currently in the relegation zone, sitting at 18th place in the league with just six points from nine matches. Genoa’s manager, Alberto Gilardino, hopes that Balotelli’s experience will help lift the team out of the bottom ranks.
Balotelli has built a reputation as both a talented striker and a controversial figure. During his time at Manchester City, he played a pivotal role in the club’s 2012 Premier League title, famously scoring 30 goals in two and a half years. He also left a mark with memorable incidents, including a “why always me?” T-shirt reveal after scoring in a 6-1 victory over Manchester United, and a high-profile training-ground altercation with then-manager Roberto Mancini.
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While Balotelli’s career has seen ups and downs, with stints at Liverpool and AC Milan that didn’t pan out as planned, he’s also had successes in France with Nice and Marseille. His most recent Italian appearances were with Brescia and Monza.
Though Balotelli has represented Italy 36 times, including as part of the squad that finished second at Euro 2012, he hasn’t played for the national team since 2018. Despite the long gap, Genoa fans are optimistic about what he can bring to the team.
One fan remarked, “We’re excited to see him in Genoa colors. He’s unpredictable, but he knows how to score goals, and that’s what we need.”