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, nearing 35 in August, 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. Signed in October 2024 under Alberto Gilardino, the move 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. Softfootball gathered 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. But then, his career has never followed a predictable script.
He’s represented 12 clubs across the continent and has become football’s ultimate journeyman — drifting between moments of brilliance and long spells of inconsistency.
He was once the UEFA Golden Boy, a finalist at Euro 2012, and a star at Inter, AC Milan, and Manchester City. His decline has been painful — slow, steady, and difficult to ignore. Just before Genoa, he was even linked with CF Intercity, another third-tier Spanish side, before choosing what he hoped would be a Serie A swansong. It never materialised.
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.
