Genoa: South Korea flies to the aid of Mario Balotelli

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By: Manu Tournoux

It was the beautiful story of the end of 2024. After several months to bite her brake far from the spotlight, Mario Balotelli had signed up with the Genoa and thus signed his comeback in Italy. His latest experience in Italy then dates back to his freelash made in Monza during the 2020/21 season in Serie B. There was initialed a contract until June 2025 with a salary of 400,000 euros gross and D 'A liberating clause linked to certain conditions. Unfortunately since the formalization of his arrival in Genoa, Balotelli only appeared six times for a total of 56 minutes played. No goal scored, no decisive pass delivered and almost no tempted shot. And with the eviction of Alberto Gilardino and the arrival of Patrick Vieira, the 34 -year -old striker came out of the rotation definitively.

“”Mario has dropped in the hierarchy, he always has a great desire to play and it makes him great honor. In recent days, we will try to find a solution that is suitable for everyone on the transfer market. If Genoa does not give him the minutes he wants, the solution is to look for a place where he can go and especially play». In these words, Marco Ottolini, sports director of Genoa, sounded the start of the end of the adventure of Super Mario in Liguria. But at 34, the former Italian international did not say his last word and hopes to find a fall point after working actively with the Genoese club to return in shape.

Two Korean clubs come back to the charge

According to our information, two South Korean clubs of K League 1, whose names have not yet filtered, are ready to return to the charge to afford Mario Balotelli. As a reminder, the winter transfer window is open until March 27, 2025 in South Korea, which gives the Italian striker time to find an amicable agreement with the Genoa to free himself from his contract and Close all the administrative details for a possible departure in South Korea. In addition, according to our indiscretions, Mario Balotelli, who had also had Japanese, Australian and Indian sirens a few months ago, would be more inclined at the idea of ​​expatriating after prioritizing a return to Italy for a long time. Behind South Korea, the Japanese championship appears to be the hottest destination.

The objective today for Mario Balotelli is very clear: to find the pleasure of playing in a club which would be able to offer him a good place in his rotation and a darling status of supporters. The two South Korean clubs had also offered a much higher salary than that of Genoa but Mario Balotelli had, at the time, preferred to try a comeback in Serie A who never really started. And for the most skeptical, Mario Balotelli seems to have gained in maturity, never having complained about his lack of playing time, or even his declassification within the Genoese rotation. Playing football with a smile, Mario Balotelli only asks that and South Korea, who always dreams of it, continues to make him soft eyes.