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Man City Premier League and FA Cup winner makes surprise Serie A return
Source:Latest News

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There was a surprise move for a former Manchester City and Liverpool star confirmed over the weekend.

Manchester City cult hero Mario Balotelli has made the latest step in his career after joining Serie A strugglers Genoa.

The Italian forward was a big money arrival at the Etihad Stadium after joining City in a PS25m from AC Milan during the summer of 2010 and went one to become a Premier League champion and FA Cup winner during his time at the club. By the time he departed to join AC Milan in January 2013, Balotelli had scored 30 goals and provided six assists in 80 appearances in all competitions - although famously, his only Premier League assist came when he set up Sergio Ageuro to score a memorable late winner against Queens Park Rangers as Roberto Mancini's City side claimed the club's first ever Premier League title.

Speaking of his time at City, Balotelli admitted he left the Etihad Stadium too soon in an interview with The Athletic and described the decision to depart as his 'biggest mistake'.

He said: "I think that was my biggest mistake, to leave City. Even in the year when I left, I played very well in Milan for a year and a half, but after that, I had some problems. And now that I'm older, I know that I shouldn't have left City at that time. All these years seeing City improving, improving and improving. I could have been here like Sergio Aguero for a long time. If I had my mindset now, when I was at City, probably one golden ball (Ballon d'Or) I could have won, I'm sure about this. But you know, when you grow up, you mature more, so..."

Balotelli joins a side sat in the relegation zone in Italian football's top tier after winning just one of their first nine games of the season. Genoa will host Fiorentina on Thursday evening before travelling to fellow strugglers Parma on Monday - although it is not yet known whether Balotelli will be in contention as he looks to reach match fitness over the coming days and weeks.