Mario Balotelli Completes Free Transfer to Serie A Club Genoa

Mario Balotelli, a former striker for Manchester City, has completed a free transfer to Serie A club Genoa. Since leaving Manchester City, Balotelli has played for clubs including AC Milan, Liverpool, Nice, Marseille, and Monza. The 34-year-old forward had been unattached since his departure from Turkish Super Lig team Adana Demirspor earlier this summer. With 36 caps for Italy, Balotelli is making his return to professional football in his native country, over three years after his last spell with Monza. Balotelli, who was a member of Manchester City’s Premier League title-winning squad in 2012, is now joining a Genoa team that is currently struggling and occupies a relegation spot. Under the management of Alberto Gilardino, Genoa currently ranks 18th in the league standings, having accumulated six points from their initial nine matches. During his tenure in the Premier League, Balotelli frequently attracted media attention due to his conduct both on and off the field. His time at Manchester City notably featured a training-ground altercation with manager Roberto Mancini, and he gained notoriety for displaying a ‘why always me?’ T-shirt following a goal in a 6-1 rout of rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford. Over two and a half years with the Blues, Balotelli netted 30 goals, contributing to the club’s first league championship victory since 1968. Following an initial, short period at AC Milan, he made an unsuccessful transfer to Liverpool in 2014, which subsequently resulted in a loan return to the San Siro. Subsequently, Balotelli has competed for various European clubs, such as French teams Nice and Marseille, and Italian outfits Brescia and Monza. Balotelli, who was part of the Italy squad that reached the final of Euro 2012, has not represented his national team since 2018.