Mario Balotelli booked just five minutes into shock Serie A return after ending Turkish stint with straight red

MARIO BALOTELLI took just five minutes to pick up a yellow card on his return to Serie A.

The striker joined Genoa as a free agent last week after going a few months without a club.

Balotelli was brought on as an 86th minute substitute with his side 1-0 up thanks to a goal from Andrea Pinamonti.

With the game winding down to a close Balotelli managed to get himself booked.

He was cautioned for a foul in the 90th minute, which means he has picked up a yellow and a red in his last six minutes of football.

The Italian was sent off in his last appearance for Demirspor at the end of last season.

Balotelli, 34, penned a deal until the end of the season with Genoa - the 12th club of his career.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claims he only wanted to join Genoa following extensive talks with manager Alberto Gilardino.

The former Italy international appeared thrilled as he met with a group of supporters.

Balotelli is back in Serie A after three years away, having had two spells at Adana Demirspor either side of a brief stint at Sion.

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But the former Manchester City star has vowed to "smash" the league, saying: "Just because I wasn't in Serie A (in recent years), what I did doesn't count? F*** off, you and Serie A.

"It's a promise, I'll smash Serie A when I sign (for a new club), I'll smash this f***ing Serie A."