Italian soccer star Mario Balotelli has finally joined a new team, inking a seven-month contract with Serie B’s AC Monza as he looks to get his career back on track in Italy’s second division.
Balotelli, once one of the biggest names and best strikers in the world, has had a career defined by bizarre behavior and acts of indiscipline despite his success on the field.
Those quirks have seen him go from featuring for some of Europe’s best teams like Inter Milan and Manchester City to spending the past four seasons toiling in relative obscurity with Nice, Marseille, and last season, Brescia.
After Brescia was demoted last year from Serie A despite their star striker’s 5 goals in 19 matches, Balotelli became a free agent.
He had not decided to join a new club until now and will join forces with former AC Milan teammate Kevin-Prince Boateng on an Italian side with Serie A aspirations.
Monza, owned by media tycoon and former Italian president Silvio Berlusconi, is in a unique position to add high-paid players due to their owner’s vast wealth, and will look to the former Italy national team star to help propel them towards their goal this season.
Balotelli is expected to join Monza in training this week and should debut by the end of the calendar year.
