A true globetrotter of the football planet, Mario Balotelli has settled in Turkey this season. And the Italian striker finds colors in the jersey of the ambitious promoted, Adana Demirspor.
A promoted who has the mouth. Resident of Süper Lig for the 2021/2022 season, Adana Demirspor multiplied the blows during the summer transfer market. Younès Belhanda, Benjamin Stambouli and Britt Assombalonga have arrived. But Murat Sancak, the rich president of the Turkish team, wanted a size in attack. If Zlatan Ibrahimovic had been approached, it was another colt of Mino Raiola who finally joined the ambitious project of the club founded in 1940: Mario Balotelli.
Super Mario returns to the fore
Free after a season with Monza (6 goals in 14 appearances), the native of Palermo, who admitted to regretting his choice to play in Serie B, was determined to bounce back. After Italy, England and France, it was therefore in Turkey that he signed for the tenth club of his career. A club that is doing quite well for the moment in the elite since it is currently fifth in the standings (45 points) four units from second place. And Super Mario is no stranger to it.
Silent during the first four days, he then chained 5 goals during the next six before experiencing a small period of hollow. But he still finished the first part of the season with 8 goals in 20 appearances in all competitions. The year 2022 has started rather well with 3 goals, including a double, in five games. This brings his total to 11 achievements in twenty-four games (10 in the league, 1 in the Turkish Cup). We must also add to his nice record 3 assists.
Reunion with Italy
In other good news for Super Mario, Roberto Mancini called him up for an internship with Italy at the end of January. A return after a long absence. “It had been three years since I had spoken to him. I called him because he is old, he is 31 years old. Maybe his mind is better now. When Mario arrived in Manchester, he had incredible talent. He was young and had great qualities. He has always trained well. He’s a good guy too.”, Mancini explained. A trainer who has known the bad boy version and the escapades of Super Mario.
But soon to be 32 years old (he will be on August 12), the center-forward, joined by Loïc Rémy this winter, seems to be passing a milestone, as Yakup Çinar, journalist for the Turkish media, explains to us. Fanatic. “Balotelli shows that he came here to play football, his performances in the Süper Lig are good. Off the pitch, we don’t talk much about him. I can say that he is the most disciplined and dedicated player in the team at the moment. Despite having had a fever of 39 against Göztepe, he scored. He has good communication with the president. The fact that coach Montella is Italian is a great advantage for him..
A restless transfer window?
He pursues :“We expected Balotelli to be more talked about off the pitch. However, he adapted very well to Turkey and Adana. His great performances allowed him to find the national team of Italy. He has proven once again that he is a world star and he is being treated that way. He receives advertising offers”. But not only.
“Currently, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe fans want to see him in their teams. Many Turkish and European teams are interested in him. He earns 3 million euros a year. He still has two years of contract and he is happy at Adana Demirspor. But if an offer of 10 million comes on the table, I think his club will consider it. But if it’s less, they won’t sell it.”. Mino Raiola should therefore still have his work cut out for him this summer with Mario Balotelli who could play extra time in Turkey or discover an eleventh club.
