- The former Italy international was last linked to a club from Spain’s third division
- The 34-year-old left Turkish Super Lig team Adana Demirspor at the end of last season
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts! available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Mario Balotelli has claimed he would ‘crush’ a potential return to Serie A as he searches for what would be the twelfth club of his legendary career.
The former Manchester City man has been without a squad since leaving Adana Demirspor as a free agent from the Turkish Super Lig team last summer.
During his time in Turkey, Balotelli scored seven goals in 16 games and is thought to be looking for a new challenge before calling time on playing professional football.
Mail Sport reported at the start of this month that he was assessing an offer from Alicante-based team CF Intercity in the third tier of Spanish football.
But the former Italy international has hinted he may be more interested in a move closer to home.
Mario Balotelli became enraged when his level was questioned on a recent Twitch stream
Streamer Enerix got short shrift from Balotelli when he compared him unfavorably to Venezia’s Joel Pohjanpalo
The 34-year-old joined from Turkish Super Lig team Adana Demirspor at the start of the summer
He discusses his career streamer Enerix’s Twitch channelBalotelli became enraged when he was compared to footballers who plied their trade in Serie A.
When Enerix argued that Joel Pohjanpalo – currently playing for Venezia – was a wiser choice for a newly promoted side, Balotelli, the former Inter Milan star, asked: ‘What the hell are you saying?
‘Just because I haven’t played in Serie A in recent years, what I’ve done doesn’t count? F*** away, you and Serie A.
‘It’s a promise, I will destroy Serie A if I sign (for a new club), I will destroy this damn Serie A.’
According to Football ItalyBalotelli recently thought he was being linked with a move to Genoa.
Manager Alberto Gilardino is said to have contacted the 34-year-old in a bid to incentivize a move to the northern Italian side.
The last time Balotelli played in the Italian top flight was in 2019, when he returned to his hometown club Brescia.
The former Manchester City star spent just one season at the club before they were relegated
Should Balotelli return to his motherland, his arrival in the Italian top flight would mark the striker’s first appearance in the competition since his turn at Brescia during the 2019/20 season.
The player signed a multi-year contract with his hometown club on a free transfer, but did not stay beyond his first season after the team was relegated to Serie B.