Mario Balotelli
Mario Balotelli Barwuah (Italian pronunciation: [ˈmaːrjo baloˈtɛlli]; né Barwuah; born 12 August 1990) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Süper Lig club Adana Demirspor.
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Balotelli with Marseille in 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Mario Balotelli Barwuah | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Mario Barwuah | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 12 August 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Palermo, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Adana Demirspor | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2006 | Lumezzane | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Inter Milan | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Lumezzane | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2010 | Inter Milan | 59 | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2013 | Manchester City | 54 | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | AC Milan | 43 | (26) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2016 | Liverpool | 16 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | → AC Milan (loan) | 20 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2019 | Nice | 61 | (33) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Marseille | 15 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Brescia | 19 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Monza | 12 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Adana Demirspor | 33 | (18) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Sion | 18 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Adana Demirspor | 6 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Italy U21 | 18 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2018 | Italy | 36 | (14) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 February 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 September 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balotelli started his professional football career in 2005 at Lumezzane, before joining Inter Milan in 2007. He won the treble (Serie A, Coppa Italia, and Champions League) in 2010. Balotelli reunited with Internazionale manager Roberto Mancini at Manchester City in 2010, helping them win a Premier League title and FA Cup. He moved back to Italy in January 2013, signing for AC Milan, before returning to the Premier League with Liverpool 18 months later. Following a return to Milan on loan, Balotelli departed to France, playing for Nice and Marseille in Ligue 1. He returned to Italy a third time, joining Serie A club Brescia in summer 2019, and Serie B club Monza in late 2020. The following summer, Balotelli signed for Turkish club Adana Demirspor.
Balotelli earned his first cap for Italy in a friendly match against the Ivory Coast in 2010. He amassed over 30 caps and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2012, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He helped the national side reach the final of Euro 2012, scoring twice against Germany in the semi-final, and won bronze at the Confederations Cup. Balotelli is Italy's joint-top-scorer in the UEFA European Championship, and joint-top-scorer in the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Regarded as a highly promising player in his youth, Balotelli is a versatile forward with strength, pace and an eye for goal. He is regarded as one of the best penalty kick takers in world football. Despite his talent, Balotelli has been criticised for his poor attitude on and off the pitch.