Mario Balotelli admits he didn’t watch all Italy games during the Euros last summer because ‘it hurts’ to watch the Azzurri play without him.
The 31-year-old made his Italy return for a get-together at Coverciano at the end of January, but his last appearance with the Azzurri is dated back to May 2018.
He was not even close to being included in the squad that won the Euros last summer and Balotelli admits that ‘it hurts’ to see the Azzurri play without him.
“I haven’t followed Italy much during the Euros, it hurts to watch their games without me,” Balotelli told Le Iene.
“This team won the Euros without me, so they fully deserved it. Surely, had I been fit to play the Euros, we would have won more easily.”
The Azzurri will play the World Cup play-offs in March and Balotelli hopes to be there this time.
“I love Roberto Mancini too much and doesn’t deserve anything similar to what happened in the past,” the striker said.
“We talk sometimes, he keeps telling me to work hard trying to improve in some aspects.”
What’s his relationship with Italy’s most experienced players such as Giorgio Chiellini?
“We don’t talk, I don’t have their telephone number,” Balotelli admitted.
The full interview will be aired tonight.
Balotelli has played 141 games in Serie A with Inter, Milan and Brescia, scoring 52 goals. He made his senior Italy debut in August 2010 and has 36 caps and 14 goals to his name. He joined Adana Demirspor last summer and has scored 11 goals in 23 appearances across all competitions.
Balotelli, i 5 comandamenti di Mancini e una preghiera – Le Iene https://t.co/FwXr69LJ5Z
— Daniele (@Danyboy1991) February 17, 2022
The relationship with Chiellini could be an issue if this was a long term project.
But for right now, both men need to put aside differences for the greater good for la maglia azzurra for 2 matches.