Why Balotelli’s Genoa transfer didn’t work out

GENOA, ITALY – DECEMBER 21: Mario Balotelli of Genoa looks on during the Serie A match between Genoa and Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on December 21, 2024 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Italian striker Mario Balotelli returned to Serie A, joining Genoa in October 2024, but his move to Marassi didn’t work out: here’s why.

Balotelli joined Genoa as a free agent in October after weeks of negotiations that involved the Rossoblu ex-coach Alberto Gilardino.

The 2006 Italy World Cup winner pushed hard to convince Balotelli to move to Marassi, but he was sacked only after a few days after Balotelli completed his free transfer.

Just to make things worse, the Grifone appointed French legend Patrick Vieira as their new coach. The former midfielder had already coached Balo at Nice, but the pair was never on good terms, leading Balotelli to claim that he had left the French club because of Vieira.

Balotelli has only collected 56 minutes of football at Marassi, making just six appearances.

Vieira downplayed the striker’s importance in the team after a draw against Lecce in January.

“Mario is an important player, like Sabelli and Vogliacco, who were not introduced,” said the former midfielder.

“We have other players on the bench. We are a team, and we are all important. I made this decision today; tomorrow, it may change. The club and the team are the most important things. If we understand this, we’ll be doing important things like today.”

Vieira has managed to bring Genoa far from the drop zone, confirming predictions from Betway Sports experts who didn’t see the Grifone among the weakest teams in the league this season.

Genoa have collected five wins, five draws and just three defeats in 13 Serie A games under Vieira.

Balotelli has been facing tough competition as well as Andrea Pinamonti has been leading the Genoa attack this term, netting eight times in 24 league appearances. The Italian has scored one goal every 247 minutes, contributing to 33.3% of Genoa goals this term.

Recent claims from Genoa director Marco Ottolini confirmed Balotelli and Genoa are destined to part ways even before the end of the season.

“With Mario, we had a clear conversation. He is training, he is on the list, there are still some transfer markets open, and we will see what can be done,” he told Secolo XIX via TMW.

“We could have triggered the clause at the end of December, but we didn’t do it because it’s not our style, and we wanted to give ourselves more time. There are simply players who are more suited to our style of football. Mario still wants to play, and we are working to find a solution.”