Once hailed as Europe’s brightest rising star, Mario Balotelli now finds himself contemplating a stunning descent a potential move to Real Murcia, a club fighting for relevance in Spain’s third division. At 34, the former Champions League winner is eyeing what could be the 13th club of his professional career.
His recent spell at Genoa ended without a whisper. Softfootball confirmed that Balotelli was signed in October 2024 under Alberto Gilardino, a move that fizzled almost instantly.
When Patrick Vieira took over weeks later, Balotelli found himself frozen out. The pair had crossed paths before at Inter and Nice but familiarity wasn’t enough to build trust. His contributions? Just 67 minutes of action spread across nine months, six appearances, zero goals, and two yellow cards.
Now out of contract, with his deal expiring on June 30th, the Italian striker is again searching for purpose. The Mirror reported that his agent has been actively exploring new opportunities ever since Genoa made it clear he wasn’t in their future plans. One of the surprising options on the table? Real Murcia.
This is not a return to the elite. This is not Real Madrid or Atlético. Murcia is a side that failed to secure promotion to Spain’s second tier after falling short in the playoffs. Still, club president Felipe Moreno and sporting director Asier Goiria are optimistic.
Speaking from Madrid, they described the pursuit of Balotelli as a project for growth a bold, symbolic signing to ignite hope and draw attention. For Balotelli, it would be his first-ever stint in Spanish football, a major comedown from his days in Manchester, Milan, or Marseille.
Softfootball earlier reported that Newcastle and Aston Villa lead race to bring Matteo Guendouzi back to Premier League. Guendouzi who joined permanently from Marseille has been doing well in Lazio, making a total of 70 league appearances across two seasons.
And now, a fresh chapter may begin in unfamiliar territory. For Balotelli, this may not be the comeback he envisioned, but it might be the stage he needs. Whether it’s redemption or simply closure, Real Murcia could be his final shot at finding joy in the game once more.
