Former Liverpool and Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is reportedly set for a return to the Italian Serie A with two clubs in particular linked with the now 34 year old’s services.
Having come through Lumezzane’s youth set up, Balotelli’s professional career kicked off with Inter Milan, but despite his clear and obvious talent on the ball, his behaviour was often a problem for the clubs who took a risk on him and he ultimately turned into a bit of a footballing nomad. To date, eleven clubs across a few different leagues can be counted on his CV, and despite often boasting a very good games to goals ratio, he has only cracked the 50 appearances milestone at a club on three occasions.
The 36 capped Italian international found himself as a free agent once again over the summer as he departed from a second spell with Turkish Super Lig side Adana Demirspor, and whilst it was fully expected that he would sign on the dotted line with Brazilian side Corinthians, that deal ultimately fell through.
With European leagues now in the October international break, it is being reported that Balotelli is looking to resume his career back in Serie A and that both Genoa and Torino have made contact with him in an effort to secure a deal, at least for the remainder of the domestic 2024/25 campaign.
Although his Brazilian move failed to go through, the player has not been without his suitors and it is being reported that he has received firm offers from a number of sides around the globe, including teams from Australia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Japan and the Indian Super League, but with him not really being tempted into that kind of adventure, a return to the Italian league that he knows pretty well is obviously more of a pull for him.
As a free agent he could naturally sign a new deal at any club at a point of his choosing, such is the leeway afford to free transfer deals, but as it sounds like he is still mulling and assessing the pros and cons of the approaches of both clubs, at this moment in time it does not feel like there will be a resolution before the international break comes to a close, but you would imagine a decision would be at least close by that point.
Neutrals will have their own opinions on whether or not he would be an advantage, or a disadvantage for Genoa or Torino, but if his career so far has been anything to go by, if he does return he will make interesting watching for fans.
