Mario Balotelli 'targeted by Italian fourth tier side in shock move – as former Man City star looks for 13th club of career'

Mario Balotelli is reportedly being targeted by a fourth tier Italian side in what would be the 13th club of his career.  

Balotelli is remembered as one of the Premier League’s great characters after his spells with Manchester City and Liverpool, garnering headlines both on and off the pitch.

He won the top prize in English football with City, assisting Sergio Aguero’s iconic injury time winner against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season. 

The 34-year-old played for Serie A side Genoa last season but was released this summer after making just six appearances for the club. 

Balotelli is now a target for Italian fourth division side Pavia, according to Sky Sport Italia. 

Pavia, who play at a 4,999-capacity stadium, have been pursuing the striker for several months and are expected to table a formal offer in the near future. 

Balotelli is remembered as one of the Premier League’s great characters after his spells with Manchester City

After leaving City in January 2013, Balotelli returned to Italy with AC Milan, scoring 12 goals in his first half-season. 

A move to Liverpool followed in 2014, but he struggled to make an impact at Anfield, netting just once in the Premier League before being loaned back to Milan.

The forward rebuilt his reputation in France with a productive spell at Nice, where he scored 43 goals in 76 appearances, before a short stint at Marseille in 2019. 

Later that year, he signed for Brescia but departed after their relegation from Serie A.

Balotelli then moved to Turkey in 2021, joining Adana Demirspor, where he enjoyed a prolific campaign, hitting 19 goals in 33 games. 

That was followed by a move to Switzerland with Sion before his most recent spell back in Italy.

If he joins Pavia, it will mark the 13th club of a career that has taken him across five countries and seen him win league titles in both England and Italy.