Brazilian football already boasts great figures and added more renowned players in the winter market, but it seems there could be another “bombshell” in the market: Mario Balotelli is reportedly in negotiations to become a Corinthians player.
The arrival of the Italian would be quite a novelty in the Brasileirão, as he is a globally recognized footballer with a history in European powerhouses such as the two Milan giants, Inter and Milan, as well as Manchester City and Olympique de Marseille, among others.
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However, at 33 years old, the striker’s last seasons have been far from the spotlight. That didn’t stop him from making the news, though not always for the best reasons.
A strong finish in Turkey
Balotelli recently played the 2023-24 season with Adana Demirspor in Turkey, where he managed to finish the campaign in good form despite being sidelined for several months due to injury.
After spending three months out following surgery in November, Super Mario returned recharged: besides scoring in his first comeback match, he ended the semester with four goals in six games. In total, he scored seven goals in 16 appearances for the Turkish team, which still opted not to renew his contract.
A misstep in Switzerland
The previous season was not as positive for the striker, whose stint at Sion in Switzerland was marked by some controversies and the club’s relegation to the second division.
In addition to an alleged fight with Barthélémy Constantin, the club’s sporting director, the outlet Blick reported that Balotelli had been partying at the hotel where the team was staying in Spain mid-season.
The Italian did not participate in the last five matches of the season and watched from the sidelines as the Swiss team was relegated. In the summer of 2023, Sion let him go.
