Career
Club
With an average of more than a goal per game,[5] he is considered a very promising footballer, being also featured on the national football press.[6][7]. At the age of 15, Barwuah was promoted to the senior side of his then-club Lumezzane, making his senior debut in a Serie C1 league match against Padova.
Following this, rumours linked him to several European clubs such as Fiorentina, [8]Manchester United and FC Barcelona; however he opted for Internazionale, who signed him to a 3-year deal, the maximum allowed for a youth player, on August 31, 2006.
As of March 12, 2007 Mario has scored 19 goals in 18 league matches for F.C. Internazionale Milano Under-17 Team, Allievi Nazionali. He also trains and plays with Internazionale’s Primavera Under-20 Team, Primavera. He has scored 8 times with the Under-20s, including a tie-breaking penalty in the Primavera league final won 1-0 to Sampdoria. These performances have prompted high praise[9] from several high-ranking people including Inter President Massimo Moratti. On December 16, 2007 Balotelli made his first team debut replacing David Suazo in a Serie A match won 2–0 by Inter at Cagliari. Three days later, he was featured in the starting lineup in a Coppa Italia match against Reggina Calcio and scored two goals in a 4–1 win.
On January 30, 2008 he scored two goals to Juventus in the return leg of the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, being instrumental in a 3–2 away win for the nerazzurri.
International
Due to Barwuah’s legal problems, he did not manage to answer a number of call-ups received by Italian national Under 15 and Under 17 teams in the past, as he is still considered a Ghanaian immigrant.[10]
On August 7, 2007, five days before his 17th birthday, he received his first senior International call-up from Ghana Coach Claude Le Roy for a FIFA International friendly match against Senegal in the New Den Stadium in London, England on August 21, 2007[11], but declined the offer citing once again his willingness to play for Italy when he becomes eligible.[12] He also stated his willingness to represent Italy at the international level once he will be able to acquire an Italian passport.[13]