Mario Balotelli has been recalled back to Italy squad for the first time after four years. the last time the player was in the team was in 2018, the absence of a striker has led them to invite him. He was called to help the team in their World Cup play-off semi-final.
The former Manchester City and Liverpool 31-year-old striker has not been featured for his country since September 2018. Balotelli is one of 35 players named for a three-day training camp after scoring eight goals in 18 league games for Turkish side Adana Demirspor.
Mario Balotelli Back to Italy Squad after Four Years
Italy faces North Macedonia on the 24th of March in a World Cup play-off semi-final. Balotelli has a record of 14 goals in 36 games for his country, (Italy) but has earned only three caps since the 2014 World Cup.
This week’s training camp is one of Roberto Mancini’s final opportunities to get his players together before the North Macedonia match. Mario Balotelli played under Mancini earlier in his career at Inter Milan and Manchester City as well.
The former AC Milan striker hasn’t played for his country since 2018 but is being given a shot because of the Azzurri’s shocking lack of quality forwards. Italian fans are not happy about the return of the player as some of his former colleagues too.
some time ago, Italy skipper Giorgio Chiellini said the player is negative with a lack of respect for the team as a well. He also said the striker deserved “a few slaps” for how he conducted himself on international duty and added that for “someone who thinks he is among the top five players in the world, I never even thought he could be in the top 10 or 20.”
Mario Balotelli was hurt by that brutally honest assessment, but the pair promptly made peace when brought together via video call to discuss the matter on TV show Le Irene. On Monday, it was confirmed that Balotelli has been sensationally called up by Roberto Mancini for a training camp at the end of January, after just over three years in the international wilderness.
