Mario Balotelli joins 14th club of his career in surprise move

Mario Balotelli has now accomplished the 14th switch of his profession after being handed a shock profession lifeline by Al-Ittifaq in Dubai.

The maverick Italian has spent the primary half of the season as a free agent, having left Genoa upon the expiry of his contract final June.

Balotelli attracted curiosity from each Main League Soccer and Liga MX golf equipment final summer time, however in the end remained unattached.

Balotelli joins new membership

The 35-year-old, who maintained his health taking part in and training at Kandima within the Maldives, has now discovered a brand new house within the UAE.

Balotelli has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Al-Ittifaq, to not be confused with the Saudi aspect that Steven Gerrard managed.

As an alternative, the Emirati soccer membership, who have been solely based six years in the past, at present sit all-time low of the UAE First Division.

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Al-Ittifaq have solely gained two of their 11 video games this season whereas scoring simply six targets, and wish Balotelli to hit the bottom working.

Nonetheless, the striker, whose time in European soccer appears to be like over, failed to attain in any of his six appearances for Genoa final season.

It’s the 14th new membership of Balotelli’s profession, since incomes a transfer to Italian giants Inter Milan in 2007 as a teen from Lumezzane.

He was a part of the Nerazzurri aspect that gained the treble beneath Jose Mourinho, together with the 2010 Champions League.

Balotelli then arrived in England that summer time after finishing a £20million transfer to Manchester Metropolis.

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Famously, his solely Premier League help proved to be the one which teed up Sergio Aguero’s dramatic winner to seal the title in 2012.

Following a falling out with Metropolis boss Roberto Mancini, Balotelli was proven the door simply six months later as he went to AC Milan.

It wasn’t lengthy earlier than Tremendous Mario made a return to the Premier League, nonetheless, as he signed for Liverpool in the summertime of 2014.

A disastrous spell at Anfield ensued, through which Balotelli managed simply 4 targets in 28 matches for the Reds – one within the Premier League.

The 36-cap Italy worldwide then loved a three-year spell with French membership Good from 2016, after a season on mortgage again at AC Milan.

Since then, Balotelli hasn’t remained at one membership for longer than a season, with stints in Ligue 1, Serie A, Switzerland and Turkey.

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Balotelli ‘pondering’ about turning into a coach

“I’m excited about it as I’m getting outdated,” Balotelli advised reporters on Saturday forward of his flight to Dubai to hitch his new group.

“However what if I discover one other one with my similar character? What would I do subsequent?”

On Al-Ittifaq, Balotelli added: “It’s a pleasant undertaking.

“It’s sizzling in there, whereas right here it’s chilly, so I can’t wait to get there. I’m even stronger than the others.

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“There have been a number of calls from Italy. We tried to barter, however I wasn’t up for it.

“I feel soccer has modified; there are different gamers, and it’s proper to make room for them. I’m 35.”