Mario Balotelli nearing return as free agent awaits green light from Serie A club after vowing to 'smash' Italian league

The 34-year-old forward has been a free agent since leaving Turkish side Adana Demirspor earlier this year. According to Nicolo Schira, Genoa are highly interested in bringing Balotelli on board, with club officials reportedly impressed by his recent fitness and determination. While the striker is optimistic, he is currently waiting for what Schira describes as the "final green light" from Genoa before he can sign a contract with the club.

Gazzetta have further reported that Balotelli has already agreed to the finer details of his contract and could earn between €250,000 and €300,000. He will sign a deal until the end of the season.

Earlier this month, Balotelli joined a Twitch stream hosted by former players Emiliano Viviano and Radja Nainggolan, alongside streamer Enerix. During the conversation, Enerix stirred controversy by stating that he would choose Venezia striker Joel Pohjanpalo over Balotelli. The comment hit a nerve, leading to an outspoken reaction from Balotelli, who took issue with the suggestion that his recent performances outside of Serie A were insignificant.

“Just because I wasn’t in Serie A, what I did doesn’t count?” Balotelli fired back. He went on to make a bold promise, stating: “It’s a promise, I’ll smash Serie A when I sign [for a club], I smash this f***ing Serie A.”

His fiery words convey a strong desire to prove himself and re-establish his name in Italian football, as he prepares to potentially don the colours of Genoa.

Balotelli’s career has seen him play for some of the most iconic clubs in Europe, including Manchester City, Liverpool, Inter and AC Milan. Known for his moments of brilliance and a penchant for controversy, he also earned 14 goals over 36 appearances for the Italian national team. One of his most memorable highlights came during Euro 2012 when he played a pivotal role in leading Italy to the tournament's final by scoring a brace against Germany in the semi-final. Now, should the deal with Genoa be finalised, fans and critics alike will be eager to see if Balotelli can live up to his pledge to “smash” the league.