Italian striker Mario Balotelli has expressed frustration over his limited playing time at Genoa under manager Patrick Vieira.
Balotelli, 34, joined the Serie A club earlier this season under former coach Alberto Gilardino but has found opportunities scarce since Vieira’s appointment.
He has not featured for Genoa since December, making only six substitute appearances without scoring.
Born in Palermo to Ghanaian immigrants, Balotelli was adopted by an Italian family at a young age.
Despite choosing to represent Italy internationally, he has acknowledged his Ghanaian heritage, stating, ‘Inside me I’m Ghanaian, and I’m proud to be African. But of course I’m Italian. I was born in Italy.’
On social media, Balotelli hinted at his dissatisfaction with his current situation, posting: “Someone around here deserves not a mature Mario but the rebellious 16-year-old Mario, maybe they would understand what disrespect like this really means.”
Balotelli’s career has been marked by both talent and controversy.
He has played for clubs including Inter Milan, Manchester City, and AC Milan. His time at Genoa has been challenging, with limited opportunities to contribute on the field.
