Balotelli looking for a fairy-tale swansong at Genoa

Mario Balotelli is looking for a fairy-tale swansong to a nomadic — and often controversial — career.

He will have the spotlight on Monday in Parma, where the mercurial forward could make his debut for his latest Serie A club Genoa.

Balotelli joined beleaguered Genoa this week, marking his return to Serie A after more than four years.

“Mario has arrived with really great motivation. I’ve spoken a lot with him,” Genoa coach Alberto Gilardino said. “At the moment, his programme entails a week of working, both with the squad and undergoing physical tests. … I’m thinking about (including him) Monday night at Parma.

“But we’re taking it hour by hour, day by day. He’s a guy who must be protected in everything. I’ve been able to talk a lot with him. I know what he can give us, but as I’ve previously said, he can’t solve all the problems on his own.”

A nomadic career has taken Balotelli from Inter Milan to Manchester City, AC Milan, Liverpool, Nice, Marseille, Brescia, Monza, Switzerland's Sion, and Turkey's Adana Demirspor twice.

With his physique, technical ability, and qualities as a finisher, Balotelli was considered one of the world’s best strikers but his on-the-field achievements have often been overshadowed by his antics off it.

During his time at Man City, in which he won the league title, Balotelli was sent off four times, threw a dart at a youth team player and was involved in an incident that saw fireworks explode in his bathroom. After scoring against Manchester United, he revealed a T-shirt under his City jersey reading, “Why Always Me?”

Balotelli last played in Serie A in 2020 with hometown club Brescia. But what started as an emotional homecoming ended with the forward being fired for failing to report to training.

This could be the last of many last chances for the 34-year-old.

“He’s right. Now is not the time to talk, he has to be judged for what he does on the field,” former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. “He has to understand that this last chance is the most important to make sure he is remembered.

“Don’t misunderstand me, he is already in the story of Italy, in some of the most beautiful memories. But everyone wants to see a marvellous goal on his debut. It would be a fairy tale. Difficult, I know, but if we close our eyes fairy tales always stay with us.”

Prandelli was the Italy coach who handed Balotelli his international debut in 2010. Two years later, Balotelli helped the Azzurri to the final of the European Championship, finishing the tournament as the joint top goal-scorer.

Genoa needs some of that goal-scoring prowess. It is bottom of Serie A and has scored just seven goals in nine league matches. It had just two shots on target in a 3-0 loss at Lazio on Sunday for its fifth defeat in six matches.

“It would be a fairy tale (if Balotelli helps Genoa avoid relegation), but we are all impatient and curious to see how he is physically,” Prandelli said. “What point he’s at. The field is cut-throat.

“What’s beautiful is that we have all suddenly become his fans. And I have never heard him this motivated, this overwhelmingly determined to come back.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Udinese's Rodrigo De Paul, right, and Brescia's Mario Balotelli vie for the ball, during the Italian Serie A soccer match at the Mario Rigamonti stadium in Brescia, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. (Gianluca Checchi/LaPresse via AP, File)

FILE - Brescia's Mario Balotelli reacts during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Brescia and Udinese at the Mario Rigamonti stadium in Brescia, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. (Gianluca Checchi/LaPresse via AP, File)

Mario Balotelli and Genoa sports director Marco Ottolini pose with Balotelli's jersey in Genoa, Italy, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP)

Mario Balotelli, left, listens to Genoa's head coach Alberto Gilardino during a training session in Genoa, Italy, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP)

Mario Balotelli, left, and Genoa's head coach Alberto Gilardino attend a training session in Genoa, Italy, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored his 858th career goal and had two assists, and the Washington Capitals beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-3 on Thursday night to continue their strong start.

Ovechkin is now 37 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's record. After making Cayden Primeau the 176th different goaltender he has scored on, Ovechkin is on pace for 45 this season, which would put him at 895 and perhaps beyond this spring.

Before scoring with 7:33 left in the third period, Ovechkin set up goals by Tom Wilson and Aliaksei Protas. Wilson ended an 0-for-22 power-play drought with his team-leading sixth goal of the season.

Brandon Duhaime and Jakub Vrana scored less than a minute apart, and new dad Connor McMichael also had a goal for the Capitals, who improved to 7-2-0. They last won seven of their first nine games in 2015-16.

Montreal's Cole Caufield scored his 10th to tie New Jersey captain Nico Hischier for the league lead. Brendan Gallagher and Nick Suzuki had the other goals for the Canadiens, and Primeau stopped 28 shots.

Canadiens: After coach Martin St-Louis mixed up his lines following an 8-2 home loss to Seattle, this was a better effort. It also helped to get defensemen Kaiden Guhle and Justin Barrow back from injury.

Capitals: The sample size is no longer too small. It's OK to think the Caps are a playoff contender after several offseason additions.

Charlie Lindgren made the biggest of his 13 saves denying Caufield on a lengthy penalty kill in the third, which came after Washington went up 5-3.

The Capitals have scored three or more goals in eight of their nine games.

The Capitals host Columbus on Saturday, and the Canadiens visit Pittsburgh.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Washington Capitals left wing Andrew Mangiapane (88) skates with the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) and center Christian Dvorak (28) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau (30) stops the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki, left, celebrates his goal with defenseman Lane Hutson (48) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals right wing Brandon Duhaime (22) celebrates at the bench after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates with the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates with the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates with the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble (47) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)