Former Manchester City and Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has sealed a deadline day transfer to Swiss outfit FC Sion after coming to blows with head coach Vincenzo Montella.
The Italian striker was most recently representing Turkish side Adana Demirspor having joined them from Monza ahead of the 2021/22 season. He scored 19 goals in all competitions during his debut campaign with the Super Lig side however things have not gone to plan since.
He was involved in an incident with Montella after the 1-0 victory over Umraniye at the weekend. Balotelli appeared to make a comment to his compatriot - something that the former AC Milan, Fiorentina and Sevilla schemer took exception to.
The 48-year-old had to be physically restrained from reaching Balotelli and it has not taken particularly long for the striker’s exit from the club to be manufactured, with Adana Demirspor keen to get his wages off the club’s books
Balotelli has penned a two-year deal with Swiss top-flight side FC Sion. On the signing, the current CEO of the club Barthélémy Constantin said: “Mario Balotelli will bring us a lot offensively since he comes out of a full season and arrives with us with confidence. He is the kind of striker we needed, with great determination. It is an honor to have him with us.”
He will now link up with fellow Italian Paolo Tramezzani with the club - his presence having reportedly been a key figure in the striker’s decision to sign for the club. There was also apparently further interest in his services - Marca having reported that Greek side AEK Athens having reportedly been interested in making a move for his services.
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Balotelli’s move to Sion represents another dramatic chapter of his career. Having started his footballing journey with Lumezzane, he moved to Inter Milan and won three consecutive Serie A crowns, as well as the Champions League under Jose Mourinho. A spell at Manchester City saw the 36-time Italian international add an FA Cup and Premier League to his trophy haul before he returned to his homeland with AC Milan.
Just two years later and Balotelli was back in England with Live r pool but a disastrous season at Anfield saw him jettisoned once more with the striker having gone on to represent the likes of Nice, Marseille, Brescia and Monza before his move to Turkey last summer.
Whilst Balotelli has gone on to have a journeyman career over the last few years of his career, he was surprisingly handed a return to the national team earlier this year - former Man City boss Roberto Mancini giving him a place at a special training camp back in January. He was not named in the squad for the Azzurri’s World Cup qualifying play-offs in March.
