Mario Balotelli: Ex-Manchester City, Inter striker joins Serie A side Genoa hoping to overturn poor run - 'I am pumped'
Published 29/10/2024 at 08:45 GMT
Mario Balotelli's exodus from football's elite divisions is over as he joins Serie A strugglers Genoa to end his free agency. The former Manchester City striker said he is "pumped" for his return to the Italian top-flight, and hopes to add goalscoring know-how to a side who have found the target just seven times this season. Balotelli's former clubs include Inter, AC Milan and Liverpool.
Ballon d'Or winner Rodri's biggest moments
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mario Balotelli has returned to the Serie A with Genoa, ending his stint as a free agent after leaving Turkish club Adana Demirspor in the summer.
The 34-year-old has had spells in Turkey and Switzerland after leaving Monza in 2021, but returns to Italy hoping to arrest Genoa's torrid run which has seen them triumph just once in the league so far.
“I am pumped," the striker said on Monday. "I don’t want to talk much. I just want to get started. I’ll give it my all."
Balotelli broke onto the scene under Roberto Mancini at Inter, making his debut in 2007 and helping the Serie A giants to three league titles.
The striker also played a role in the club's historic treble under Jose Mourinho in 2010.
The former Italy international linked back up with Mancini at Manchester City, where he helped the Premier League club to a famous title victory in 2011/12 – providing the assist for Sergio Aguero's dramatic last-gasp winner against Queens Park Rangers to edge Manchester City to league glory.
Balotelli went on to join AC Milan, Liverpool, Nice and Marseille. The striker has also scored 14 goals in 36 international appearances.
Despite heading towards the end of his career, Balotelli has still enjoyed success in front of goal, scoring seven times in 16 appearances for Adana Demirspor in a stint hampered by a knee injury.
His last Serie A appearance came in the 2019/20 campaign at Brescia, where he scored five times in 19 matches.
And now he looks to add goalscoring nous to the struggling Genoa, who are among the division's lowest scorers with just seven league goals so far this season.
TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League across the 2024/25 season. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
React to this story
Share this article
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement