Mario Balotelli joins 14th club of his career with Al-Ittifaq move

According to sources cited by Gianluca Di Marzio, Balotelli has agreed to move to Al-Ittifaq, marking the first time in his career that he will play outside Europe. The Italian forward has spent nearly 20 years playing in Italy, England and France.

Al-Ittifaq currently compete in the second division of UAE football, which has four tiers in total. The club was founded in 2020 and is led by Italian president Pietro Laterza. Balotelli is set to travel to the UAE on 9 January and is expected to sign his contract on 12 January.

The former Italy international has recently been spending his time in Kandima, Maldives. He was seen coaching children at the resort, playing football with staff and guests, and signing autographs. Speaking about his stay, Balotelli said: “The island is stunning, the villas are spacious and modern, and waking up in paradise to the ocean every day was exactly why I came.

“I spent time at the sports facilities daily, from training in the gym to enjoying football, tennis, and beach activities – all perfect for an athlete to stay in top condition during the off-season.”

Balotelli left Genoa at the end of last season after failing to score in six appearances. Over the past three years, he has scored 13 goals in 40 matches for three clubs: Sion, Adana Demirspor and Genoa.

This move to the Middle East is a new chapter in Balotelli’s long and eventful career. He began playing professionally in 2006 with Lumezzane and rose to prominence after joining Inter Milan. During his final season at the club, he won the treble and scored 20 goals in 59 appearances.

Balotelli later played for Manchester City, AC Milan and Liverpool, before moving between clubs in France, Switzerland and Italy. Now, as he enters the final stage of his career, the striker has chosen Al-Ittifaq as his 14th club, a move that could mark his last stop in a career filled with highs and lows.