Tuesday 20 August 2019 08:27, UK
Former Manchester City and Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli says his mum cried when he told her he was joining hometown club Brescia.
Balotelli, now 29, was born in Palermo but moved to Brescia at the age of two, and his adoptive family still lives there although his father died in 2015.
Speaking at his first news conference on Monday, Balotelli said: "My mum cried initially when I told her that I might be going to Brescia ... she was very happy."
Balotelli arrives at Brescia on a free transfer after his contract with Marseille expired.
His last spell in Italy was a miserable one as he struggled with injury and scored only once in a season-long loan at AC Milan.
He returned to Liverpool in 2016 and moved immediately to France, resurrecting his career first with Nice and then at Marseille.
Brescia were promoted to Serie A as champions of Italy's second tier last season.
Balotelli added: "I have zero fear of failing ... I'm fine, very calm."
Thought the transfer window was closed? Wrong. Across Europe, plenty of deals are still being done, with Premier League players still able to move to the continent.
The transfer window for Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A, Germany's Bundesliga and France's Ligue 1 closes at varying times on Monday September 2. Meanwhile, League One, League Two and Scottish clubs can also do deals until September 2.
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