Mario Balotelli urged Interior Minister Matteo Salvini to counter racist supporters. “This is the real reason why many would hate to see a black Italy captain.”
This is not the first time the Nice striker has gone up against Salvini and his right-wing Lega Nord party, who share Government control with the Movimento 5 Stelle.
“Yes, Salvini says some things that are right and I agree with him on some issues, but what I want to show you are the comments from followers on his livestream,” noted Balotelli on his Instagram Stories.
Mario Balotelli urged Interior Minister Matteo Salvini to counter racist supporters. “This is the real reason why many would hate to see a black Italy captain.”
This is not the first time the Nice striker has gone up against Salvini and his right-wing Lega Nord party, who share Government control with the Movimento 5 Stelle.
“Yes, Salvini says some things that are right and I agree with him on some issues, but what I want to show you are the comments from followers on his livestream,” noted Balotelli on his Instagram Stories.
He highlighted some racist statements spotted just by scrolling through and brought it back to the controversy when SuperMario was mooted for the captain’s armband.
The Italy captaincy always goes to the player with the most caps on the field.
“The excuse that I am not a polite or respectful person dies here,” noted Balotelli.
“This is the real reason why many would hate to see a black Italy captain for the Nazionale. I cannot believe some people have these thoughts in their minds.
“This cannot be the country that I always hoped and even prayed to play for and represent since I was a child. There cannot be people like this.
“The real problems are the extreme thoughts of some people. If I were him (Salvini, ndr), I’d do something, because these are people who ruin the credibility of an entire country.
“I am not trying to cause controversy here. I care about Italy just as much as you do.”
Salvini has fought hard against the proposed new law making the children of immigrants, or indeed anyone born on Italian soil, an Italian citizen.
Under current rules, only ‘blood’ provides the right to an Italian passport automatically.
As Balotelli was born in Italy to Ghanaian parents and fostered by an Italian family in Brescia since the age of two, he was not allowed an Italian passport or the opportunity to play for Italy until he turned 18.