Whenever the name Mario Balotelli is brought up, particularly in Italy, the conversation is almost inevitably laced with a sense of regret. There is that lingering “What if?”, a collective sigh over a player who possessed the raw, undeniable potential to be one of the best in the world, if only things had been different.
Yet being in front of him, with a smile on his face, it becomes clear the 36-year-old striker has reached an unexpected level of wisdom and maturity, traits that shine through in his lucid analysis of Italian football’s current struggles and the vanishing street culture of the sport. As Balotelli reflects on what he would tell his adolescent self, there is also a distinct feeling that he has finally made peace with his own turbulent narrative, that he isn’t chasing the ghosts of unfulfilled expectations.
Balotelli joined Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League simply to enjoy the game, to find pure joy on the pitch, and to realise a long-held family dream of playing alongside his brother, Enock Barwuah. “To tell you the truth, it was an idea that came up more or less at the last minute,” he says. “The president wanted to meet me, and we talked. The project interested me. Everyone always says: ‘You go to Dubai for the money,’ but thank God, I’m not short of that. So, money wasn’t the only goal. The project was actually nice and competitive. I grew fond of the idea and decided to give it a try.”
The realities of playing in the Middle East present a stark contrast to Balotelli’s past experiences. “Infrastructure-wise, it’s very good. The stadiums are beautiful. The problem is the public: there’s no crowd, which is a bit sad,” he says. “The organisation is also lacking a bit, but I think they’ll improve on that with time. I’m talking about all the teams across the board.” On linking up with his sibling, he says: “It’s beautiful. Ever since we were little, we always said we’d play together one day. He’d always ask me: ‘If you play for Inter, Milan, or [Manchester] City, how can I play with you?’ I used to tell him that when I got older, I might play in a team of a slightly lower level and maybe they’d give us that opportunity. It’s always been a dream, and now it’s coming true.”
Despite his new surroundings, Balotelli remains acutely aware of the deep-rooted problems plaguing football back home, particularly after Italy’s failure to qualify for three successive World Cups. “The problems, in my opinion, are very simple,” he says. “I prefer to give practical explanations rather than technical ones, based on everyday life and what I see in Italy.
“When we were little, we played hours and hours of football. I remember my mum getting mad at me because I’d stay out until it was too dark to see the ball. They’d threaten you that you couldn’t go out to play the next day. Now, when I walk around cities like Brescia, though I see it in other Italian cities too, the parks are empty. There’s no one around.”
Balotelli continues: “Computers, phones, and PlayStations have ruined a lot. Above all, the parents’ mentality has changed. A seven‑year-old kid today might play football for two hours every three days. We had the same structured training sessions, plus three hours of playing at the park every day, which felt like fun but was actually extra training. I truly believe talents were born on the street and in the parks. You played a lot, learned a lot, and tested yourself against older kids. If you were good, they didn’t let you play with kids your age; they made you play with the older ones. Those were tests that served me well in the long run. Playing with people older than me has always been one of the most important things in my career.
“Today, kids are on their phones. They feel like Ronaldinho because they watch his videos. I felt like Ronaldo because I could actually pull off the same tricks at the park. It’s very different.”
Despite his pessimism over the state of Italian football, Balotelli, who earned 36 caps for the Azzurri, scoring 14 goals, remains confident of a bright future. “Yes, I think so for the upcoming generations,” he predicts. “Maybe not right away, but in the next two or three generations. It’s normal for a country to have downturns but then you bounce back. Spain, France, and Germany have all had them.”
When it comes to the national team, it’s impossible to ignore Roberto Mancini, reappointed as head coach and someone who acted as a mentor for Balotelli, as well as a defining figure throughout his most successful years. “He texted me to wish me a happy birthday, and I joked with him, saying: ‘Look, I can still play!’” Balotelli reveals. “I’m very happy he’s back with the national team; I’m very fond of him and I wish him the best. In Italy, people tend to blame the coaches a lot but, honestly, the system should take more of the blame. It’s the truth that nobody wants to say.”
As a curious footnote, the last time Balotelli played for Italy was on 7 September 2018, against Poland in Bologna. It also happened to be Mancini’s first competitive game in his first spell in charge of the national team. So, could Balotelli play for Italy under Mancini again? “If I keep scoring, yes,” he replies emphatically.
Balotelli’s time in England remains a standout chapter in a career filled with highs and lows, especially the three years he had at Manchester City when he won the Premier League and FA Cup – under Mancini. “It remains one of the best memories of my career,” he says. “At that time, City wasn’t as renowned as it is today. We joined the team that took the first steps for City to become what it is today. That gives you a special feeling. It means a lot more, actually.”
As he navigates the twilight of his career, Balotelli’s focus is clear. “I’m feeling good,” he states. “I’m recovering from a slight leg issue but I’m training, and it’s going well. It’s hot, which makes it a bit difficult to give 100%, but if you pace yourself and use your head, you can manage to play quite well. The heat is definitely a drawback, however.
“On the pitch I want to play as long as I feel good. Playing is what I love doing, so as long as my body doesn’t say: ‘Enough,’ I’ll keep going. Off the pitch, once I finish my career, I definitely want to manage my businesses and focus on my kids. I’d prefer tranquillity, though. I’ve had a very hectic career, so a sedentary lifestyle wouldn’t be a bad thing.”
If Balotelli could offer one piece of advice to his 16-year-old self, what would it be? “I’d tell him not to make certain choices,” he says, “and to listen to certain people at specific times.”
