On the eve of his 35th birthday, Mario Balotelli sat down for an extensive interview, reflecting on his career and sharing his hopes for the future. Despite being currently unattached after his stint with Genoa, the controversial striker insists his football journey is far from over.
“Playing for Real Madrid remains my dream,” Balotelli revealed with a smile. “I`m looking for a club that believes in me. I want to continue playing for another two or three years. After that, I plan to join my brother Enock at the amateur club Vado. I`ve promised to end my career playing alongside him.”
Balotelli maintains he`s in good physical condition, training independently. However, he admits to being disconnected from the current football scene. “I don`t watch matches or keep up with news. I love playing, but the game is changing too much. I see tall, strong players, but nobody dribbles anymore. These days, a kid attempting a nutmeg gets scolded.”
Reflecting on Missed Opportunities
Looking back, Balotelli expresses regret about his brief spell at Barcelona`s youth academy. “I had a chance at Barcelona, which remained a dream, but then Massimo Moratti offered more to Lumezzane, so I went to Inter instead. Barcelona was wonderful – we had freedom to play, focusing only on technique, not tactics. It was pure joy on the field.”
Balotelli acknowledges he could have applied himself more throughout his career. “My biggest regret is not playing more for the Italian national team. With more chances, I might have approached Gigi Riva`s goal record. Some people didn`t want me in the Azzurri jersey. But that`s in the past now.”
Commenting on recent controversies, Balotelli addressed Ademola Lookman`s attempt to force a transfer from Atalanta to Inter. “I regret taking off the Inter shirt at San Siro. With my current mindset, I wouldn`t do what Lookman did, erasing Atalanta from his social media. There may not be one-club players anymore, but fans deserve gratitude and respect. All of them.”