Corinthians confirm Balotelli talks and Italy ‘hope’ | OneFootball

Corinthians director Claudinei Alves confirms that the Brazilian club are in talks with Mario Balotelli, who ‘hopes’ to play for Italy again.

Corinthians are in talks to sign Mario Balotelli as a free agent, Claudinei Alves, a director at the Brazilian club, confirmed.

“He has demanded €6m for two years, so €3m per year,” Claudinei Alves told Goal.com.

“Corinthians can offer a two-year contract. The president is conducting talks, and two agents are discussing the deal.”

Alves added that Balotelli hopes to receive a call-up to Italy national team by joining the Brazilian club.

Corinthians confirm Balotelli talks and Italy ‘hope’

“He wants to return to the national team and he would like to move to Brazil with this hope.”

Balotelli, 34, is available as a free agent after the end of his contract with Adana Demirspor.

He scored seven goals in 16 Super Lig appearances in 2023-24.

Balotelli has 14 goals in 36 international appearances with the Azzurri and made his senior debut in August 2010.

He hasn’t played for the national team since a 1-1 draw against Poland in a UEFA Nations League group-stage game. He scored his last international goal in the same year in a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia.

A former Inter, Milan and Brescia striker, Balotelli has scored 52 goals in 141 Serie A games.