Mario Balotelli: A Career That Could Have Been | OneFootball

A milestone can be defined as much by controversy as by brilliance. Once hailed as one of Europe’s most gifted forwards, Mario Balotelli now stands as the poster child for squandered talent. For nearly 20 seasons the Italian striker has played for some of the continent’s biggest clubs, leaving behind a trail of unforgettable goals, combustible moments, and “what if” debates.

The Ups

Balotelli’s professional career began at Inter Milan in 2007 under Roberto Mancini. His mix of power, speed, and technical skill made him a standout as a teenager. In three years with Inter, he won three Serie A titles and the 2010 Champions League — all before he was 20! However, all was not perfect. His frequent clashes with José Mourinho (who replaced Mancini in 2008), disciplinary issues, and public criticism of fans all foreshadowed a career where his off-field behavior often eclipsed his on-pitch exploits.

In 2010, Balotelli reunited with Mancini at Manchester City. He won the 2011 FA Cup and played a key role in the 2011–12 Premier League title, famously assisting Sergio Agüero’s historic goal against Queens Park Rangers. Yet, his time in England was littered with incidents: training ground bust-ups, car accidents, and tabloid headlines. While he became a cult figure with moments like the “Why Always Me?” shirt celebration, his lack of discipline frustrated coaches and fans alike.

The Dips and Decline

Returning to Italy in 2013 with AC Milan, Balotelli showed flashes of brilliance, scoring 30 goals in 54 appearances across all competitions. However, during the 2014 World Cup trouble once again found the striker. The Italian team exited in the group stage and Balotelli was singled out for underperforming by the media. his form dipped after a poor showing at the 2014 World Cup, where Italy exited in the group stage and Balotelli was singled out for underperforming.

All this haunted Balotelli as he moved to Liverpool in 2014 to replace Luis Suárez. It was a poor fit, and he scored just one league goal in sixteen games. It was clear Jürgen Klopp had no interest in him, and he was loaned back to AC Milan. Once again, he failed to impress. A three-season stint with Nice between 2016-2018 saw him return to his productive self; scoring 43 goals in 76 games.

After leaving Nice, Balotelli has bounced between Marseille, Brescia, Monza, Adana Demirspor, and Sion. His 2021-22 year with Demirspor was his last real productive season, scoring 19 goals. But overall, inconsistency and fitness issues kept him from sustained success.

The Now

Mario Balotelli is a case study in squandered potential. He won league titles in Italy and England, a Champions League, and made critical contributions to his national team (most memorably a brace against Germany in the Euro 2012 semifinal).

But those achievements are nearly inseparable from his controversies: throwing darts at a youth player, training ground fights, setting off fireworks in his bathroom, social media missteps, and run-ins with referees. These incidents damaged his reputation, overshadowing his talent and making him a risk for elite clubs. He currently is on Genoa’s roster, but only played 67 minutes over six matches last season.

At 35, Balotelli is no longer the “next big thing,” but a cautionary tale of how attitude and professionalism can define a player’s trajectory as much as talent. His legacy is both electrifying proof that in soccer, brilliance alone is never enough.