Balotelli deal with Genoa at risk as Gilardino future uncertain

Mario Balotelli has had conversations about a sensational return to Serie A with Genoa, but the Grifone are reportedly slowing down their negotiations, as coach Alberto Gilardino risks losing his job if the team are not able to turn their form around in the coming weeks.

Gilardino has been keen to add another forward from the free agent market to his squad after a series of unfortunate injuries at the start of the 2024-25 campaign. Vitinha, Junior Messias, Ruslan Malinovskyi, Milan Badelj and Morten Frendrup have all been ruled out with injuries of varying severities so far.

Genoa unsure about Balotelli or Gilardino

Though Balotelli is keen to return to Serie A, and has reportedly given his approval to the Genoa move, the club are less convinced and need to see more from Gilardino and his team before signing off on a deal.

According to reports from Calciomercato.com, Genoa are considering parting company with Gilardino if he is unable to muster up a positive display at home against Bologna on Saturday.

As Balotelli is one of Gilardino’s targets, the club are unsure about signing the player if the coach’s future is up in the air.

Genoa currently sit in the Serie A relegation zone after seven matches with a tally of just five points.

They have not won since the second weekend of the season, a 1-0 away win against fellow strugglers Monza, and were also eliminated from the Coppa Italia by fierce rivals and Serie B outfit Sampdoria at the end of September.