MARIO BALOTELLI is closing in on a major Serie A return after spending the last four months as a free agent.
Balotelli, 34, has been without a club since his departure from Adana Demirspor in June, after seven goals and one assist in 16 appearances last season.
But the striker now looks set for a return to elite football after three years out in the wilderness playing for Demirspor in Turkey and Sion in Switzerland.
According to transfer insider Nicolo Schira, the ex-Italy international has been training in his bid to regain match fitness.
And it looks like the Manchester City cult hero has impressed Genoa club chiefs, who are keeping a close eye.
Schira claims the former Liverpool star is now awaiting the “final green light” to put pen to paper with Alberto Gilardino’s side.
And the Italian is “very excited” about a possible return to the Serie A.
Balotelli has experienced tremendous success in Italy as he burst onto the scene with Inter Milan in 2007 at the age of 17.
The centre-forward went on to amass a total of 28 goals and 15 assists during his three-year stint at Inter.
That led to a lucrative move to City where he spent three turbulent years that saw him racking up 30 goals in 80 appearances as well as numerous on and off-field run-ins.
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That included setting his own house on fire by letting off fireworks in his bathroom and the infamous ‘Why always me’ shirt celebration against Manchester United.
But will remain in City folklore for setting up Sergio Aguero for his famous league-winning strike against QPR in 2012.
Balotelli moved to his beloved AC Milan in 2013 where he spent one year and registered 18 goals as well as eight assists in 41 appearances.
A Premier League return soon followed to Liverpool but he couldn’t meet expectations and was loaned back to Milan in 2015 after only four goals in 28 games at Anfield.
Stints at Nice, Marseille, Brescia and Monza soon followed as his star status started to dwindle.
Balotelli also amassed 14 goals in 36 caps with Italy and shone bright during Euro 2012 as he helped his national team reach the final.
