Mario Balotelli agrees two-and-a-half-year deal with Al Ittifaq in UAE return

Mario Balotelli has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Al Ittifaq, marking another chapter in the remarkable career of one of Italy’s most enigmatic forwards.

At 35, the former Azzurri striker is set to resume competitive football in the UAE league, underlining his determination to extend a journey that has taken him across Europe and beyond.

According to reports from AS, Balotelli will be officially unveiled by the Dubai-based club next Saturday, January 10.

The move comes after several months without a team, following the expiration of his contract with Genoa last summer. Now a free agent no longer, Balotelli has opted for a long-term commitment that offers both stability and a fresh environment as he enters the latter stages of his playing career.

Al Ittifaq is owned by Pietro Laterza, who also controls Italian side Chievo, and his involvement proved decisive in securing Balotelli’s signature.

The deal reflects a clear ambition from the club to raise its profile and inject experience into its squad, while offering Balotelli a platform to remain relevant and competitive.

Few players of his generation boast a résumé as diverse as Balotelli’s. He rose to prominence at Inter Milan before enjoying title success at Manchester City, later featuring for AC Milan and Liverpool.

His career then took in spells at Nice, Olympique Marseille, Brescia and Monza, followed by stints in Turkey with Adana Demirspor and a return to Serie A with Genoa.

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