Mario Balotelli signs for UAE second division club in his 14th career move

According to renowned journalist Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Sports Italia, the 35-year-old forward has agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract with Al-Ittifaq. Balotelli is scheduled to join his new teammates on January 9th to begin this new chapter. 

Consequently, the professional journey of the striker born in 1990 is about to enter a fresh phase with his 14th different club.

Since starting his professional career in 2006, Balotelli has played for a long list of prominent teams, including Lumezzane, Inter Milan, Manchester City, AC Milan, Liverpool, Nice, Marseille, Brescia, Monza, Adana Demirspor, Sion, and Genoa. 

This path has seen him compete in 6 different countries: Italy, England, France, Turkey, Switzerland, and now the United Arab Emirates. His most recent club was Genoa in Serie A; however, his time there was disappointing. 

After 6 appearances last season, the former Man City star failed to score a single goal. Furthermore, his tenure ended on a negative note due to a severe conflict with head coach Patrick Vieira, which led to a club-imposed ban starting in December 2024.

The last competitive match Balotelli participated in was a Serie A fixture against Lazio on December 5, 2024, which ended in a loss for Genoa. Following these events, Genoa decided to terminate his contract in the summer of 2025. 

Notably, throughout his entire career, Balotelli has never stayed at any single club for more than 3 seasons. His longest stays were with Inter, Man City, and Nice, alongside 2 separate spells at AC Milan that totaled 3 years.

According to Sun Sports, during his 6 months as a free agent, Balotelli spent time vacationing with his family at the Kandima resort in the Maldives. During this break, he was seen engaging in several notable activities, including coaching children on the resort's football pitch and playing friendly matches with staff and guests. 

“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 said. 

Regarding his new team, Al-Ittifaq currently competes in the UAE First Division, which is the second tier of football in the country, positioned below the UAE Pro League. The UAE football system currently consists of 4 levels. 

Interestingly, the club is owned by Italian businessman Pietro Laterza, who also owns the Italian side Chievo. Despite the high-profile signing, Al-Ittifaq has struggled significantly this season. The team has managed only 2 wins and 6 points from their opening 11 matches, leaving them at the bottom of the league table. Their most recent result, however, was a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Hatta Club on Boxing Day at the end of 2025.