Genoa’s Balotelli saga continues: Negotiations face new delays

The ongoing saga between Genoa and Mario Balotelli is akin to a rubber band, stretching one day and contracting the next. Recently, the free agent seemed on the verge of joining the Rossoblù, but now the situation has reverted to where it was days ago, with the Brescia-born striker once again distancing himself from the club.

Calciomercato report that this back-and-forth has been dragging on for weeks, revealing two opposing factions within Italy’s oldest football club. On one side are those like coach Alberto Gilardino and president Alberto Zangrillo, who would welcome Balotelli with open arms. In contrast, CEO Andres Blazquez and sporting director Marco Ottolini remain hesitant about what the 34-year-old could contribute to a team struggling with both results and gameplay.

Balotelli himself is eager to return to Serie A and is even willing to accept a significantly reduced salary of 400,000 euros gross, roughly half net, until the end of the season. While Genoa deliberates, Balotelli spends his days training in his private gym, sharing videos of his workouts with personal trainers on social media.