Mario Balotelli joins Turkish minnows Adana Demirspor – the TENTH team of his career – on three-year deal after former Manchester City and Liverpool left Serie B side Monza earlier this summer
- Mario Balotelli was a free agent after leaving Monza at the end of the season
- He has now joined the 10th club of his career in Turkish side Adana Demirspor
- The Turkish minnows have returned to the top flight after a 26-year absence
- The club’s chairman says Balotelli wants to play for Italy at the 2022 World Cup
Mario Balotteli has joined Adana Demirspor on a three-year contract, the Turkish side have announced.
The 30-year-old striker was a free agent after leaving Serie B side Monza at the end of his six-month deal there after they narrowly missed out making it into the Italian top-flight in 2020-21.
But the former Manchester City and Liverpool forward has now joined the 10th club of his career in the former of the Turkish minnows, who have returned to the Super Lig after a 26-year absence.
Mario Balotteli has joined Adana Demirspor on a three-year contract, the Turkish side have announced
The 30-year-old striker was a free agent after leaving Serie B side Monza at the end of his six-month deal in 2020-21
The club’s official Twitter account posted a picture of Balotelli wearing his new side’s shirt alongside agent Mino Raiola and Demirspor officials with the caption: ‘Today, a transfer that will write its name in the history of our Adana Demirspor with golden letters took place. World Star Mario Balotelli.
‘He signed a 3-year official contract with our team. Super Mario will now score goals for the blue-navy blue jersey.’
The move will see Balotelli play in his fourth different country, having already tested himself in his native Italy, England and France throughout his club career.
Demirspor’s chairman Murat Sancak also claimed this week that Balotelli has not given up hope of representing his country – who have made it through to the final of Euro 2020 on Sunday – at next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Demirspor’s chairman insisted Balotelli wants to play for Italy at the 2022 World Cup
Balotelli has scored 14 goals in 36 games for the Azzurri but has not played for them since 2018
‘Balotelli wants to come here to go to the World Cup,’ Sancak told A Spor. ‘The sponsor will pay half of his salary.
‘They say that Balotelli is crazy but nobody has to worry: We are from Adana and we will be able to manage him.’
Balotelli has scored 14 goals in 36 games for his country but has not played for them since playing 62 minutes in a Nations League game against Poland in September 2018.
His club career has also been colourful, starting out at Lumezzane before joining Inter Milan in 2007.
Balotelli was part of the treble-winning Inter Milan side under Jose Mourinho in 2009-10
He then won the Premier League and FA Cup under current Italy boss Roberto Mancini at Manchester City
He made 86 appearances in all competitions for them, scoring 28 goals in total and winning three Serie A titles along with the Champions League in the treble-winning season under Jose Mourinho.
Balotelli then joined Manchester City – managed at the time by current Italy boss Roberto Mancini – and went on to the Premier League title and FA Cup and score 30 goals in 80 games.
Two spells at AC Milan came either side of a less fruitful spell in England with Liverpool, for whom he scored just four goals in 28 games across all competitions.
He then moved to Ligue 1 to represent Nice and Marseille before returning to his home country to represent Brescia and Monza.
Balotelli also had two spells at AC Milan (right) and a short stint with Liverpool (left)