Another summer, another scramble to sign Mario Balotelli. Or at least that’s what people representing the much-travelled striker, only 29, insist.
His next adventure may be on a new continent. Argentina’s big two, Boca Juniors and River Plate are said to have shown an interest, along with Flamengo in Brazil. Sharjah, linked with a move for Balotelli, have denied making a bid.
What is certain is that Balotelli will not be playing for his hometown club Brescia again in the near future, and what is almost certain is that he will be adding a new entry to his long CV: a relegation.
Brescia, where Balotelli was a ballboy as a child and the club he joined last summer, are one off the bottom of Serie A, nine points from safety with six games to play.
Tonight’s fixture, at high-flying Atalanta, ought to have been a highlight of Balotelli’s great homecoming, a local derby with a sharp edge and, even without spectators because of the Covid-19 conditions, an especially emotional one.
The region around Bergamo, Atalanta’s home, and Brescia was an epicentre of the virus when it started claiming its thousands of lives.
Against that backdrop, the latest chapter in the Balotelli saga is no more than a footnote.
During the period of lockdown the relationship between the player and his employer deteriorated beyond repair. In February and March, Balotelli was captaining Brescia; he was the club’s leading scorer – with five goals – in the league.
But since the restart of Serie A last month, he has not even trained with his team-mates.
The divorce may yet end up in court, with Balotelli claiming salary arrears from March, among other disputes.
One surrounds the circumstances in which he was refused entry to the club’s practice ground after training resumed.
Brescia claim he had not followed the protocol in informing them of his fitness and health, so they could not allow him onto the premises.
Balotelli’s representatives say the club had excluded him from the mandatory Covid-19 testing regime applied to the rest of their players, a claim Brescia call ‘false’.
According to Brescia’s manager – their third different coach of a wretched season – Diego Lopez, Balotelli could not in any case be considered for the starting line-up or the substitutes’ bench because he had not kept himself fit enough.
“The rest of the players went in one direction,” Lopez said of the fitness plan given to the squad while they were at home in isolation, “and he went in another direction. He is not in the same shape as his colleagues.”
As if to make the point, Brescia last week updated his details on their official website to indicate he had put on several kilos in weight.
The story of ‘Super Mario’ at Brescia was not supposed to end like this. Eleven months ago, his arrival, after a six month stint at Marseille, was heralded as a coup for the club and, for the player, a romantic reunion with the city he grew up in.
President Massimo Cellino spoke of Balotelli’s "commitment" and a bond with Brescia that would insure against the fidgety habits of most his career.
Balotelli is one of the game’s frequent movers: Since leaving Inter Milan for Manchester City a decade ago, he has never stayed anywhere for more than two-and-half seasons.
At City, he won the Premier League in 2012, memorably contributing to the last-gasp Sergio Aguero goal that sealed that title.
That was his last club trophy, and as he surveys his hopscotch career, he can hardly help but note that a longer stay at some of his previous clubs would have enriched a resumé that included three Serie A titles and a Champions League – with Inter – while he was still in his teens.
Liverpool signed Balotelli in 2014, but he left such a poor impression there that when Jurgen Klopp arrived the following year, he immediately excluded him from plans that would eventually lead the club to triumph in Europe and England.
But his time in France, where he played for Nice and then briefly for Marseille, had pushed Balotelli back into contention for the Italy national team.
The Brescia move was welcomed by Roberto Mancini, Italy’s manager and Balotelli’s former coach at both Inter and City, as a possible platform for the player to make himself a key part of the Euro 2020 campaign, which Italy were approaching with optimism.
The Azzurri will maintain that optimism for next year’s rescheduled Euros. It is very hard, from this distance, to imagine Balotelli being involved.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Notable Yas events in 2017/18
October 13-14 KartZone (complimentary trials)
December 14-16 The Gulf 12 Hours Endurance race
March 5 Yas Marina Circuit Karting Enduro event
March 8-9 UAE Rotax Max Challenge
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
