Where's Mario Balotelli?

Mario Balotelli is a misunderstood genius. Or at least, that's how he has felt throughout his career. As technically brilliant as he is inconsistent in his play and his mind, the Italian striker is experiencing perhaps the worst months of his time as a footballer.

He joined Genoa at the end of October with the illusion that it would serve as another boost to his already lengthy and bizarre career. However, in a matter of a few months the Italian striker has disappeared to the point of being more news off the pitch than on it.

The last game played by the wayward Italian striker was on December 21st, when he played the last 7 minutes of the loss to Napoli. Since then, he has been called up twice more but without playing, the last time on January 12th. Since then, he has disappeared from his team's plans.

Genoa, on different occasions, has stated that Balotelli has not found his place in the squad, that he cannot have opportunities. For his part, the striker asked to leave in January but finally stayed to be even more in the shadows.

“I have realised the impact I have on people at international level only in the last few years. I'm very reserved, I stay with my family and don't expose myself much to the outside world. Yes, I have felt more loved abroad than in Italy,” he said in his last public appearance, in a feature in the fashion magazine ‘Outpump’.