Mario Balotelli Barwuah (né Barwuah; born 12 August 1990) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Süper Lig club Adana Demirspor.
1993
In 1993, when he was three, he was placed in foster care to the Balotelli family when his own family was unable to pay for his health care needs.
His foster parents are Silvia, the Jewish daughter of Holocaust survivors, and Francesco Balotelli.
They lived in the town of Concesio, Brescia, in northern Italy.
At first, he stayed with the Balotelli family during the weekdays and returned to his biological parents on weekends.
He later was permanently fostered by the Balotellis full-time and adopted their surname.
2005
Balotelli started his professional football career in 2005 at Lumezzane, before joining Inter Milan in 2007.
2006
At age 15, he was promoted to the first team, making his first team debut in a Serie C1 league match against Padova on 2 April 2006.
Having had an unsuccessful trial with Barcelona at age 15, Balotelli was signed by Inter Milan in 2006 on loan with a pre-set price of €150,000 to co-own the player.
2007
In June 2007, Inter exercised the option and purchased the other half for an additional €190,000.
On 8 November 2007, as part of Sheffield F.C.'s 150th anniversary celebrations, Balotelli featured in a friendly between the two sides at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane.
The game finished 5–2 to Inter, with Balotelli scoring twice.
He made his first team and Serie A debut on 16 December 2007, replacing David Suazo in a 2–0 win against Cagliari.
Three days later, he was featured in the starting lineup in a Coppa Italia match against Reggina, scoring two goals in a 4–1 win.
Balotelli gained national attention after he scored two goals against Juventus in the return leg of the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, being instrumental in a 3–2 away win for Inter.
Inter went on to win the 2007–08 Serie A.
2008
He officially gained citizenship in Concesio on 13 August 2008.
After the ceremony he released the following statement:
"I am Italian, I feel Italian, I will forever play with the Italian national team."
Mario has three biological siblings: Abigail, Enoch and Angel Barwuah.
Enoch Barwuah, two years younger than Balotelli, is also a professional footballer.
Balotelli began his career at local side Lumezzane, twenty minutes from the Balotelli residence in Concesio.
His first Serie A goal then came in April 2008 in a 2–0 away win against Atalanta.
2010
He won the treble (Serie A, Coppa Italia, and Champions League) in 2010.
Balotelli reunited with Internazionale manager Roberto Mancini at Manchester City in 2010, helping them win a Premier League title and FA Cup.
Balotelli earned his first cap for Italy in a friendly match against the Ivory Coast in 2010.
2012
He amassed over 30 caps and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2012, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
He helped the national side reach the final of Euro 2012, scoring twice against Germany in the semi-final, and won bronze at the Confederations Cup.
Balotelli is Italy's joint-top-scorer in the UEFA European Championship, and joint-top-scorer in the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Regarded as a highly promising player in his youth, Balotelli is a versatile forward with strength, pace and an eye for goal.
He is regarded as one of the best penalty kick takers in world football.
Despite his talent, Balotelli has been criticised for his poor attitude on and off the pitch.
Balotelli was born Mario Barwuah in Palermo, Sicily to Ghanaian immigrants.
The family moved to Bagnolo Mella in the province of Brescia, Lombardy, when he was two.
In June 2012, he dedicated his goals that put Italy in the final of the Euro 2012 football championships to his foster mother Silvia.
2013
He moved back to Italy in January 2013, signing for AC Milan, before returning to the Premier League with Liverpool 18 months later.
Following a return to Milan on loan, Balotelli departed to France, playing for Nice and Marseille in Ligue 1.
2018
Balotelli had to wait until his 18th birthday to request Italian citizenship, as his foster family had not adopted him.
2019
He returned to Italy a third time, joining Serie A club Brescia in summer 2019, and Serie B club Monza in late 2020.
The following summer, Balotelli signed for Turkish club Adana Demirspor.
