Mario Balotelli says his mother cried when he told her he was joining hometown club Brescia and insists he has no fear of failing on his return to Serie A after an absence of three years.
Balotelli 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 when he was unveiled by the club, 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, with the club making the announcement on Sunday.
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 before returning to Liverpool in 2016 and moving immediately to France, resurrecting his career first with Nice and then at Marseille.
The 29-year-old Balotelli added: “I have zero fear of failing. I’m fine, very calm.”