Serie A club Genoa have officially announced the signing of former Italy international Mario Balotelli on a deal that runs until the end of the season.
The club confirmed the arrival of the experienced striker on Monday with a brief statement welcoming the 34-year-old back to Italy’s top flight.
“Balotelli is a new player for Genoa, welcome Super Mario
Genoa announced.
Softfootball understands that the short-term contract offers Balotelli another opportunity to revive his career at the highest level after spending recent years with several smaller clubs.
Born in Palermo to Ghanaian parents, Balotelli was once regarded as one of Europe’s brightest attacking talents. During his career, he represented top clubs including Inter Milan, Manchester City, AC Milan and Liverpool, winning major honours across Italy and England.
One of the highlights of his career came in 2012 when he inspired Italy to the UEFA European Championship final, shortly after helping Manchester City secure their first English league title in 44 years. He also won three Serie A titles and the 2010 UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan under José Mourinho.
Despite his remarkable talent, Balotelli’s career has often been overshadowed by off-field controversies and disciplinary issues, preventing him from consistently reaching his full potential.
The striker has also endured repeated racist abuse during his career in Italy, with supporters of clubs including Verona, Roma and Juventus among those sanctioned for discriminatory behaviour.
Balotelli could make his Genoa debut when the struggling side face Fiorentina on Thursday. Genoa currently sit third from bottom in the Serie A standings after enduring a seven-match winless run, losing five of those fixtures as they battle to avoid relegation.
