Former Italian footballer and current player for the UAE's Al-Ittihad club, Mario Balotelli, confirmed that his biggest emotional connection was with Manchester City. It was with this club that he achieved significant successes, including winning the 2011 FA Cup and the 2012 Premier League title. He also mentioned the valuable experience gained at AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Nice, but if he had to choose one club, it would be Manchester City. Balotelli named Portuguese legend Luis Figo as the most iconic player he played alongside, expressing his appreciation for all the stars he shared the pitch with, including Brazilians Kaká and Adriano.
His move to Al-Ittihad represented a new challenge. He stated he had no qualms about signing with a club competing in the First Division, noting that the club's project and ambitions align with his own. He also affirmed that humanitarian work is part of his family upbringing and that helping others brings him great happiness, describing his decision to play in the UAE's top division as a new challenge in his career.
Currently, Al-Ittihad sits last in the First Division with 9 points from 17 games. Since joining the club in the winter transfer window, Balotelli has scored three goals. In an interview with 'Al-Ittihad Al-Youm' newspaper, he said that over the years, he has learned to view himself with calm and greater understanding, with the difficult stages of his career teaching him patience and how to handle pressure.
He added that he has learned to handle difficult situations with wisdom and solve problems intelligently, instead of the quick reactions he used to resort to in the past. Regarding the youth, he said, "I am not a father to everyone, but fame imposes a responsibility on me because many imitate me, so I must act wisely."
Regarding his life in Dubai, Balotelli described it as calm, spending most of his time at home, enjoying the pool, and going to the gym in the mornings. Training sessions are held in the evenings due to the Ramadan month, and sometimes he goes out to dinner in the city. He confirmed that football in the UAE is well-organized and the environment is developing rapidly, but the only negative compared to Europe is the low attendance. However, he sees the Al-Ittihad project as promising, offering great opportunities for development.
Balotelli's goal with Al-Ittihad is to earn promotion to the Premier League within one or two years. He emphasized that after retiring, he wants to be remembered as a good player and a respected person who remained true to his nature.
He described his football career as "amazing," with a major turning point being the Euro 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine, where he led the Italian national team to the final. The biggest challenge he faced was constantly proving himself and maintaining his level from one match to another. Euro 2012 transformed him from a talented player into a global star.
