Mario Balotelli on Italy’s struggles, his move to Saudi Arabia and the prospect of a national team return
Mario Balotelli, the 36-year-old striker, spoke about the troubles in Italian football and his own future in an interview with The Guardian published on 30 August 2026. He discussed life at Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League, playing alongside his brother and whether he could play for Italy again.
Balotelli said he joined Al-Ettifaq “to enjoy the game, to find pure joy on the pitch, and to realise a long-held family dream of playing alongside his brother, Enock Barwuah.” He described the move as a late decision after meeting the club president: “To tell you the truth, it was an idea that came up more or less at the last minute,” he said. The striker earned 36 caps for Italy and scored 14 goals, and his last appearance for the Azzurri came on 7 September 2018 against Poland in Bologna.
On Italy’s wider problems, Balotelli said: “The problems, in my opinion, are very simple,” and pointed to changes in how children play and train. He recalled spending hours playing in parks as a child and contrasted that with current urban scenes: “When I walk around cities like Brescia, though I see it in other Italian cities too, the parks are empty.” He added that technology and parental attitudes have reduced informal play: “Computers, phones, and PlayStations have ruined a lot. Above all, the parents’ mentality has changed.”
Describing football in Saudi Arabia, Balotelli praised facilities while noting low attendances and organisational shortfalls: “Infrastructure-wise, it’s very good. The stadiums are beautiful. The problem is the public: there’s no crowd, which is a bit sad,” he said, adding, “The organisation is also lacking a bit, but I think they’ll improve on that with time. I’m talking about all the teams across the board.”
On sharing a team with his brother, Balotelli said: “It’s beautiful. Ever since we were little, we always said we’d play together one day. He’d always ask me: ‘If you play for Inter, Milan, or [Manchester] City, how can I play with you?’ I used to tell him that when I got older, I might play in a team of a slightly lower level and maybe they’d give us that opportunity. It’s always been a dream, and now it’s coming true.”
Reflecting on his time in England, Balotelli highlighted his spell at Manchester City: “It remains one of the best memories of my career,” and recalled winning the Premier League and FA Cup under Roberto Mancini. He said he is pleased Mancini has returned as Italy coach and quoted a birthday text from him: “He texted me to wish me a happy birthday, and I joked with him, saying: ‘Look, I can still play!’” Balotelli also commented on blame for national setbacks: “I’m very happy he’s back with the national team; I’m very fond of him and I wish him the best. In Italy, people tend to blame the coaches a lot but, honestly, the system should take more of the blame. It’s the truth that nobody wants to say.”
Balotelli outlined his current physical situation and post-career plans, saying: “I’m feeling good. I’m recovering from a slight leg issue but I’m training, and it’s going well. It’s hot, which makes it a bit difficult to give 100%, but if you pace yourself and use your head, you can manage to play quite well.” He added he wants to keep playing while his body allows and to prioritise family and business after retiring: “On the pitch I want to play as long as I feel good. Playing is what I love doing, so as long as my body doesn’t say: ‘Enough,’ I’ll keep going. Off the pitch, once I finish my career, I definitely want to manage my businesses and focus on my kids. I’d prefer tranquillity, though. I’ve had a very hectic career, so a sedentary lifestyle wouldn’t be a bad thing.”
Asked whether he could play for Italy under Mancini again, Balotelli was direct: “If I keep scoring, yes.”