‘I’ve had a very hectic career’: Mario Balotelli on Italian football’s troubles and his future
Mario Balotelli, now 36 and playing for Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, reflects with unusual candour and maturity on his turbulent career, Italian football's decline, and his reasons for moving to the Middle East. The interview matters as a rare moment of self-aware reflection from a player often remembered for unfulfilled potential, offering insight into both his personal evolution and the broader crisis facing Italian football, which has failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups.
Balotelli explains his move to Saudi Arabia was driven less by money than by the chance to enjoy football again and fulfil a family dream of playing alongside his brother, Enock Barwuah, though he notes the league's stadiums are excellent but crowds and organisation still lag behind. He also offers a pointed diagnosis of Italian football's struggles, blaming the disappearance of street football culture, empty parks, and children's growing attachment to phones and PlayStations rather than the hours of informal play against older kids that he credits with shaping his own talent.
In short
- Balotelli, 36, discusses his move to Saudi side Al-Ettifaq
- Blames Italian football's decline on vanishing street-football culture
- Says he joined brother Enock at Al-Ettifaq to fulfil a family dream
Explained simply
Mario Balotelli is an Italian forward whose career has taken him to clubs across Europe and, more recently, Saudi Arabia. He first became widely known as a gifted young player, but his career has also included frequent moves and periods of controversy.
Italy has a long history of success in international football, but its national team has missed three consecutive World Cups. Balotelli links the country’s difficulties to changes in how children spend their time: he says informal games in streets and parks once helped young players develop, while those spaces are now less central.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in attracting footballers from abroad, though the league is still developing its audiences and organisation. For Balotelli, the move also had a family connection: he wanted to play alongside his brother, Enock Barwuah.
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