Gilardino on Balotelli ‘challenge’ in Serie A: ‘He can make a difference’ | OneFootball

Genoa coach Alberto Gilardino believes that Mario Balotelli will be able to ‘make the difference’ for the team in Serie A this season, but has admitted that the 34-year-old still needs a bit of time to get back into the swing of things with his new teammates.

Balotelli joined Genoa as a free agent at the end of October and had reportedly rejected a number of moves abroad to focus on his ‘dream’ return to Serie A. The former Italy international had most recently turned out for Adana Demirspor in the Turkish Super Lig in 2023-24.

Balotelli has featured as a late substitute in both of Genoa’s last two Serie A matches, coming on for a combined total of 22 minutes in the 1-0 win over Parma and the 1-1 draw with Como.

(picture via www.genoacfc.it)

Gilardino: Balotelli ‘can make a difference’

Gilardino admits that Balotelli still needs a bit of time to fully develop an understanding with his new teammates.

“It’s normal that he has to get himself in line with the team when he joined the group, to make sure that he can fully get back to doing what he has always managed to do: Making a difference in matches, whether it’s for 15 minutes, half an hour or a whole match,” Gilardino said in a recent interview with SportMediaset.

“It’s a challenge for us, who took him on, and for him to show that he’s still a Serie A level player and that he can make a difference.”