Former Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli has signed with Serie A side Genoa on a free transfer.
The 34-year-old striker has been without a club since leaving Turkey’s Adana Demirspor over the summer.
Balotelli returns to Italian football more than three years after his stint with Monza, rejoining Serie A with a struggling Genoa team currently in the relegation zone.
Under manager Alberto Gilardino, Genoa sit 18th in the league with six points from nine matches.
Known for his dynamic presence and controversial moments on and off the pitch, Balotelli made a lasting impression in the Premier League with Manchester City, where he famously lifted his “why always me?” shirt after scoring in City’s memorable 6-1 victory over Manchester United.
During his City tenure, he netted 30 goals over two and a half seasons, contributing to the club’s first league title since 1968.
Following his initial spell at AC Milan, Balotelli made an unfruitful move to Liverpool in 2014, prompting a loan return to the San Siro.
Since then, he has featured across Europe with clubs including Nice, Marseille, Brescia, and Monza. Internationally, Balotelli earned 36 caps for Italy and was part of the Euro 2012 squad that reached the final.
However, he has not represented Italy since 2018.