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 for the upcoming season.
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.
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.
‘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 appearing for 62 minutes in a Nations League game against Poland in September 2018.
His club career has been colourfu and eventful, having started out at Lumezzane before joining Inter Milan in 2007.
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.
Credit: Daily Mail
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