TMW exclusive
Daniele Gastaldello, current coach and former defender with a shared past with Mario Balotelli at Brescia, spoke exclusively to the microphones of TMW of Supermario’s signing with Genoa: “At a player level, Mario has always been a great talent, I think this is a great challenge for him. Everything will depend on his will and his desire to challenge himself in a team that must save”.
What memories do you have of that season at Brescia?
“It was a bad season, the Covid season. It wasn’t a normal championship. But as a boy, he never had any kind of problem with us and with the group. He was appreciated and had integrated well, then he had problems with the president and the relationship ended halfway through the season. He had scored a few goals… Mario was and is a great talent today too, I’m sure everything will depend on him.”
How much will it take for him to get to top condition after the months of inactivity?
“He certainly won’t be able to be at the level of the others. The match is always the match, you need to play to get to the condition. He will need some time also given his physique, but he has quality and can be decisive even during the match in progress with few minutes”.
On a behavioral level, a lot has always been said about him…
“Over time, wrong things have also been said. He certainly got many things wrong, but I like to judge a person when you know him and when you experience him. Mario never behaved badly with us, we had a good relationship, both me and the rest of the team. Then, regarding private life, everyone is free to decide and do what they want.”
Did you expect this return to Serie A?
“He was good and lucky to take advantage of this opportunity. Genoa needed a striker. They too made a bet: we all know Mario’s skills and qualities, I am convinced that Genoa have thought about this aspect and the also put it in the form of a bet with the boy”.
Have you heard from him these days?
“No, I’ll watch him on the pitch although as a former Sampdor player I hope he doesn’t do too much… Jokes aside, I’m curious, Mario is 34 years old, he doesn’t have much of a career ahead of him yet but if he wants he has all the means to do well, to make a difference But in Serie A you make the difference if you make yourself available to the team and if you immerse yourself in reality, Genoa now needs players who give 100%. Mario will be able to do it, he will certainly be able to make the difference.”