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Mario Balotelli has slammed Genoa and called Patrick Vieira an attention seeker following\u00a0 the Italian’s short spell with the Serie A side last season.<\/strong><\/p>\n Mario Balotelli signed for Genoa in October 2024 as a free agent after Alberto Gilardino personally selected the Italian, with the hopes of improving Genoa’s fate last season.<\/p>\n However, after a run of poor form, Gilardino was made surplus to requirements and Patrick Vieira took the reins in November – signing a deal until 2027.<\/p>\n The former Manchester City star did not make a single Serie A appearance from December 12th onward and Genoa decided to not renew his deal in Italy.<\/p>\n Overall, Balotelli made just six appearances for the Italian side and accumulated 56 minutes in the process, contributing to zero goals and picking up two yellow cards.<\/p>\n Genoa went on to finish 13th in the league and are one of the favorites to face relegation next season on Serie A betting sites and Balotelli had some choice words for Vieira in a recent podcast.<\/p>\n Balotelli said (Via Centrocampo podcast<\/em>): \u201cWhen he arrived, he called and asked how I was, about the team, it seemed like he had good intentions, but then he put me on for only a few minutes the first couple of games.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI played for 4 minutes against Napoli and nearly scored a goal. It felt like Vieira was almost afraid of me, that if I scored a goal, he\u2019d have to play me. He wanted to be the saviour of Genoa, it irked him that the journalists would always ask about me.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHe couldn\u2019t accept this, I would give him advice, and he could\u2019ve listened instead of telling me to get lost. It\u2019s just the desire to be a protagonist in my view, he wants to be at the centre of attention. I can see no other reason. Or I just get on his nerves.<\/em><\/p>\n The two are former teammates, making 44 appearances together during their time at Manchester City and Inter Milan, making this recent revelation rather confusing.<\/p>\n As previously mentioned, Genoa signed Balotelli as a free agent and this was under the recommendation of Gilardino who parted ways with the club shortly after.<\/p>\n At 34-years-old, the Italian is coming towards the end of his days as a professional soccer player and Genoa would have been aware of this hence the short deal.<\/p>\n The Serie A side may have added Balotelli to their roster for his experience, despite a notoriously controversial reputation, as the Italian has made 501 appearances and scored 201 goals throughout his career.<\/p>\n Patrick Vieira clearly did not have Balotelli in his plans for next season, as the Arsenal legend is currently battling another former Gunners star in Cesc Fabregas for a trio of Mikel Arteta’s stars.<\/p>\n The French manager has clearly made his plans for next season clear alongside the Genoa board, however, Balotelli beleives the Serie A side did not go about their business in the correct manner.<\/p>\n \u201cThe club didn\u2019t have the balls to say anything. I always looked for a real reason behind this, I wrote him a long message one day, I\u2019ll publish it eventually. He never gave me an answer, nor even looked me in the eye, so I found myself forced to train alone.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIf I train with the squad, I might raise the level, I don\u2019t think the situation is so extreme that I don\u2019t run enough for his style of football. I had thought of leaving in December, but I wanted to see this through.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t think the people I dealt with at Genoa would be so disrespectful, just on a human level. Now I expect them to never speak to me again for the rest of my life. They had seven months to say something, they lacked respect without reason or apology.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The post Mario Balotelli Slams Genoa and Calls Patrick Vieira An ‘Attention Seeker’ During Italian’s Short Stint With Serie A Side appeared first on FootItalia.com.<\/p>\nDoes Mario Balotelli Like Patrick Vieira?<\/h2>\n
What Did Mario Balotelli Say About Genoa?<\/h2>\n