Mario Balotelli, the charismatic striker who once illuminated the pitches for French clubs Marseille and Nice, has openly shared his career reflections, acknowledging that he could have dedicated himself with greater intensity. The 35-year-old, currently a free agent following his departure from Genoa this summer, conveyed his thoughts in an interview with the prominent Italian sports publication, Gazzetta dello Sport.
During his time in France, Balotelli enjoyed a notably prolific period. Between 2016 and 2019, he scored an impressive 43 goals in 76 Ligue 1 appearances for OGC Nice. He then moved to Marseille for a six-month spell in 2019, where he contributed an additional eight goals across 15 matches.
Despite these highlights, Balotelli’s playing time significantly decreased last season, registering just 56 minutes across six substitute appearances in Serie A. Even after celebrating his 35th birthday, the 36-cap Italy international expressed a firm desire to continue playing for “two or three more years,” even revealing an ambitious dream of joining the Spanish football giants, Real Madrid.
Balotelli identified his international career as his primary source of regret. He lamented that he “could have played more,” attributing his limited opportunities with the national team to certain individuals who “didn’t want me in the national team.” Furthermore, he reiterated a long-standing promise to conclude his playing days alongside his brother, Enock Barwuah, who recently signed with Serie D club Vado.
Following his stint at Marseille, Balotelli’s journey took him through various clubs including Brescia, Monza, the Turkish side Adana Demirspor — where he impressively found the net 26 times in 51 games — and FC Sion, before his most recent return to Italian football with Genoa.
