
Former Premier League winner Mario Balotelli, 34, set to complete free transfer to 13th club after release by Genoa
MARIO BALOTELLI is poised to plunge his career to new depths - by playing for a THIRD DIVISION club in Spain.
The former
2
Mario Balotelli is in line to join a third division club in Spain
Credit: Getty
2
The Italian made just six appearances for Genoa after joining last October
Credit: Getty
But Balotelli has endured a chequered career since leaving Anfield a decade ago, including spells with clubs in Turkey and Switzerland.
The 34-year-old
His agents have now opened talks with Real Murcia, who will remain in the Spanish third tier next season after losing in their promotion playoffs.
Murcia president Felipe Moreno met Balotelli's advisors in Madrid recently, and went on to discuss the striker's signature with sporting director Asier Goiria.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Moreno reportedly plans a fresh round of talks about a deal for Balotelli, who will be 35 next month.
Murcia have spent 18 seasons in La Liga, most recently in the 2007-08 campaign, and have won a record eight second-tier titles.
They play at the 31,000-capacity Estadio Nueva Condomina, and will be favourites for promotion next term.
The south-eastern club finished second in the Primera Federacion Group 2, but lost in the play-off semis to Gimnastic de Tarragona.
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Balotelli's madcap off-field antics have distracted from his undoubted playing ability throughout his career.
But if the frontman lands a deal and applies himself, he could yet help Murcia show no mercy to their opponents in the new season.
Mario Balotelli shows off skills in brilliant game

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Andre Onana impresses as striker with childhood friends in Cameroon as Man Utd fans call for him to replace Hojlund
MANCHESTER UNITED goalkeeper Andre Onana shocked locals when he rocked up for a kickabout with childhood friends in his home country. But instead of guarding the net, the flamboyant keeper played out on pitch. 3 Andre Onana showed of his outfield skills while playing football with friends Credit: TIKTOK @PEPE_DOLLARS10_OFFICEL 3 The goalkeeper enjoyed playing as a striker during the match Credit: TIKTOK @PEPE_DOLLARS10_OFFICEL 3 Onana is expected to stay at Man Utd this summer Credit: Alamy He is currently back in Cameroon for a break after a rollercoaster season where he was heavily criticised for his countless errors, including in last month's There has been interest from His future is still up in the air but SunSport understands the former READ MORE IN FOOTBALL United are set to make changes in the goalkeeping department and But the current plan is to keep faith in Onana and bring in someone who can put serious pressure on the 29-year-old. Red Devils boss Amorim is expected to spend his available budget on other areas, notably in reshaping the forward line. United declined to comment when asked about the video of Onana in Cameroon. Most read in Football Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford The clip of the goalkeeper was shared on social media this week, with one person joking that he was "better than While another quipped: "Even they don't want him in goal!" Man Utd open to Rasmus Hojlund offers LATEST with Italian giants keen | Transfers Exposed


The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Juventus 2 Man City 5: Erling Haaland's 300th goal and Savinho belter see Pep Guardiola's side pick up statement win
PEP GUARDIOLA and his squad are obviously loving their time in Florida. Because 8 Erling Haaland's 300th Man City goal helped his side thrash Juventus 5-2 Credit: AP 8 Savinho also netted a belter as City topped their Club World Cup group Credit: Getty The 'Sunshine State' even produced a heavy first half downpour – just to ensure Pep's men feel right at home in the Camping World Stadium. It was raining goals again too as Jeremy Doku, And it means City finish top of Group G – which could be crucial for their hopes of retaining the Club World Cup trophy. As well as meaning less travel, they are also in a much more favourable half of the draw with Bayern Munich and PSG in the other one. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL A showdown with Guardiola's former assistant Enzo Maresca and his Pep admitted before the game he had selected his team with the extreme weather in mind. It was 'only' 31 degrees when the game kicked off in mid afternoon but the humidity made it feel more like 40. So the City boss was keen to ensure he had an injection of energy for the second half – with Haaland one of those left on the bench. Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Meanwhile there was a first start since mid-September for Ballon D'Or winner Rodri who has battled back from a cruciate knee injury. Knowing their place in the last 16 was guaranteed, Juve coach Igor Tudor also made changes. Pep Guardiola joined by daughter Valentina on Man City bench at Club World Cup clash 8 Jeremy Doku opened the scoring early on Credit: Getty 8 Juventus quickly equalised before netting an own-goal to hand back the advantage to City Credit: Getty Yet the difference between winning the group and finishing second will not have escaped the notice of the two camps. The runners-up were looking at a much more difficult route to the final – with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain lying in wait - en route to the final in New York on July 13. And this was City's first real test of the tournament – against a team who beat them in the Champions League back in December. Right from the start they looked like they fancied it though. Rayan Ait Nouri's cross from the left found skipper Bernardo Silva at the back post but his header was saved by the legs of Michele di Gregorio. But the former Wolves man – who caught the eye on his debut against Al Ain at the weekend – was catching the eye again. 8 Haaland then came alive in the second half with a clinical strike Credit: Alamy 8 Phil Foden was next on target after coming off the bench Credit: Getty He sliced open the home defence with a pass to Jeremy Doku who cut inside his full-back and rolled a shot into the corner. For the third game in a row at this tournament, City had scored inside the first 10 minutes and it was a perfect start. Yet within two minutes they gifted the Italians a route back in as Ederson's radar was off with his pass out to Bernardo. The Portuguese could not reach it and Teun Koopmeiners could not believe his luck as he drove into the empty space and thumped home. Maybe the heat was affecting the players because 15 minutes later it was Juve dropping a clanger. Savinho and Matheus Nunes combined to get the ball across but it was some way from its target Omar Marmoush. Pierre Kalulu did not realise he was under no pressure though – and turned the ball into his own net rather than putting it out for a corner. 8 Savinho topped an impressive performance with a powerful hit Credit: AFP 8 Dusan Vlahovic netted a late consolation goal for Juve Credit: Reuters Marmoush and Savinho both had tame efforts saved but City were starting to stamp their authority on the game after an open start. A heavy rain shower shortly before the interval was probably just the job to cool the English side down. As expected, Haaland was on for the second half and almost made an immediate impact but could not quite get his toe onto Savinho's cross. But he did not have to wait long for his goal – nice work from new boy Tijjani Reijnders and Nunes presented the Norwegian with an open net. His finish was hardly emphatic but as the former Borussia Dortmund man knows – they all count. 300 career goals before he hits 25 years old is going some. City just needed to see the game out but Ederson made amends for his earlier mistake by dashing off his line to deny Dusan Vlahovic. And it proved to be a key moment as Haaland sent Savinho in on goal before he unselfishly allowed sub Phil Foden to roll in number four. Then a corner from the left was only half cleared by the Italians and Savinho thumped a 20 yard shot in off the underside of the bar. Vlahovic raced clear to score a consolation six minutes from time but by then City fans were already booking their extended stay here. Three wins, 13 goals and only two conceded. Pep's men clearly mean business out here.


RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Dan Bradbury sets the pace at Italian Open
Dan Bradbury hit a bogey-free 64 to give himself the lead after day one of the Italian Open. The Englishman sits alone at the top of the leaderboard after shooting a six-under-par round, one in front of Andreas Halvorsen and native Italian Francesco Laporta who are tied for second place. Halvorsen slotted three birdies in the back nine to give himself the early clubhouse lead but Bradbury started in ominous fashion with five birdies in his first seven holes to put his name in the mix. The birdies dried up but Bradbury was still yet to drop a shot and he took the overall lead with another gain on the par-four 15th. After finishing seventh in the KLM Open in the Netherlands at the start of the month, the 25-year-old made an impressive start in search of his third win on the DP World Tour and his first since October. Five players sit a shot behind the top three. Wil Besseling and Marcel Schneider were both bogey-free and ended the day alongside Kobori Kazuma, Angel Ayora and Bradbury's compatriot Brandon Robinson Thompson. Irish interest at Argentario Golf Club is provided by Dubliner Conor Purcell, who registered a birdie and a bogey in a steady round of 70 to occupy a share of 63rd place on level par.