Biography
Who is Mario Balotelli?
Early life and real name
Mario Balotelli was born Mario Barwuah in Palermo, Sicily, on August 12, 1990, to parents of Ghanaian descent. His family later relocated to Bagnolo Mella in the province of Brescia, Lombardy, when he was two years old. At the age of three, he was placed in foster care with the Balotelli family after his biological parents faced difficulties supporting his health care needs. He eventually stayed with his foster parents full-time and took their surname.
Growing up in northern Italy, Mario Balotelli waited until his eighteenth birthday to request Italian citizenship because his foster family had not adopted him at a younger age. He officially received his citizenship during a ceremony in Concesio in August 2008. He has three biological siblings named Abigail, Enoch, and Angel Barwuah.
Club career highlights
Mario Balotelli began his professional football path at local side Lumezzane, where he made his first team debut in a Serie C1 league match against Padova in April 2006. He subsequently joined Inter Milan, where he won the treble consisting of Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League in 2010 under head coach Jose Mourinho. During his time with Inter Milan, he became the youngest player for the club to score in the UEFA Champions League.
After his spell with Inter Milan, Mario Balotelli moved to Manchester City in August 2010, where he reunited with manager Roberto Mancini. He helped Manchester City secure a Premier League title and an FA Cup during his time in England. Throughout his career, he also played for AC Milan, Liverpool, Nice, Marseille, Brescia, Monza, and Adana Demirspor.
International career
Mario Balotelli earned his first senior cap for the Italy national team in a friendly match against the Ivory Coast in 2010. He went on to make over thirty appearances for his country and represented the national team at major international tournaments including UEFA Euro 2012, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
During Euro 2012, Mario Balotelli helped the Italian national side reach the final by scoring two memorable goals against Germany in the semi-finals. He also won a bronze medal at the Confederations Cup and remains one of Italy's joint-top scorers in the UEFA European Championship.
Birthday and age
Mario Balotelli was born on August 12, 1990, which makes Mario 36 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Mario shares the date with 25 other famous people.
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