Italian international Mario Balotelli has revealed his “door is open” to a move Down Under, and he would welcome offers from Isuzu UTE A-League clubs for the 2025-26 season.
The 35-year-old, 36-time Italy international has been without a club since the expiration of his contract at Italian Serie A side Genoa in June. Balotelli featured just six times for Genoa during his brief stint.
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As the UEFA Champions League and Premier League winner assesses his options for the season ahead, he told NewsWire of his openness to hearing from Australian clubs, with the possibility of a “new experience” in the Isuzu UTE A-League an attractive proposition.
“I’m definitely very interested about playing in the A-League,” Balotelli told NewsWire.
“It would be a new experience for me. Absolutely my door is open if clubs want to speak to me about coming to Australia.”
Balotelli added that conversations with former international teammate Alessandro Diamanti have heightened his interest in moving Down Under.
Diamanti spent four seasons at Western United before becoming an Australian citizen and beginning his coaching career at Melbourne City.
“It was interesting to hear about it from him (Diamanti),” Balotelli said.
“I would see it as an exciting opportunity for me if I could play in Australia. And besides football, Australia would also be wonderful country to live in.”
The Isuzu UTE A-League 2025-26 season is set to begin on the weekend of October 17-19. With a two-month window between now and the start of the campaign, Balotelli’s representative Vittorio Rigo says the former Inter, Manchester City, AC Milan and Liverpool striker intends to waste little time in the search for a new club.
“Mario would like to find a club as soon as possible because he knows how crucial it is to start preparations with teammates and to adapt to a new environment,” Rigo said.
