Mario Balotelli Joins Genoa on Free Transfer

Mario Balotelli has signed with Serie A club Genoa on a free transfer, marking his return to Italian football after more than three years. The 34-year-old forward was without a club following his departure from Turkish Super Lig team Adana Demirspor this summer. Balotelli, who boasts 36 caps for the Italian national team last played in Italy for Monza before his stint abroad.

Known for his controversial behavior both on and off the pitch, Balotelli was part of Manchester City’s title-winning squad in 2012 where he scored 30 goals in two and a half years. His time at City was marked by memorable moments including a training-ground altercation with manager Roberto Mancini and the infamous “Why always me?” T-shirt celebration after scoring in a 6-1 victory against Manchester United.

Genoa currently finds itself in a precarious position, sitting 18th in Serie A with just six points from their first nine games under manager Alberto Gilardino. The club is seeking to bolster its attacking options as it battles against relegation. After his initial spell at AC Milan, Balotelli’s career took him to Liverpool in 2014 but that move proved unsuccessful leading to a loan return to Milan.

He has since played for several clubs across Europe including Nice and Marseille in France as well as Brescia and Monza in Italy. Despite being a key player for Italy during Euro 2012 where the team finished as runners-up, Mario Balotelli has not represented his country since 2018. As he rejoins the Italian league, fans will be eager to see if he can recapture his past form and help Genoa climb the standings.