On Monday, Genoa, an Italian Serie A team beset by injuries, announced the acquisition of Mario Balotelli, a former Italy striker. Genoa has chosen to take a chance on free agent Balotelli, who last played in Serie A for Brescia four years ago and spent the previous season at Adana Demirspor in Turkey. Genoa has seven players out injured, including attackers Junior Messias, Vitinha, and Caleb Ekuban. Following Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Lazio, the statement “Balotelli is a new player for Genoa, welcome Super Mario” verified the team’s 18th-place finish.
Born to Ghanaian parents in Palermo, he was once regarded as a world-class striker and one of the rising stars of Italian football, playing for AC Milan, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Inter Milan.
However, a string of smaller teams followed, and at 34, Balotelli’s transfer to Genoa is his final opportunity on the major stage following a difficult career in which awkward off-field headlines have been as frequent as goals and titles.
He had recently assisted City in winning their first English league title since 1968 when he played up front for losing finalists Italy at Euro 2012, marking a high moment in his career.
He had previously contributed to Inter Milan’s three Serie A titles and the 2010 Champions League victory, which was the final time an Italian side won the European championship, under Jose Mourinho.
In his home Italy, Balotelli has also frequently been the victim of racial taunts from Juventus, Verona, and Roma supporters.
He is probably going to make his debut on Thursday against Fiorentina for Genoa, who are now third from the bottom of Italy’s top division following a seven-game losing streak in which they have suffered five defeats.
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