Mario Balotelli is the answer to Italy’s striker problems and should be recalled for the World Cup play-offs, argues his brother.
The Azzurri failed to qualify directly for the 2022 tournament in Qatar, finishing runners-up behind Switzerland after a 0-0 draw in Northern Ireland.
They have generally struggled for goals in recent months and Ciro Immobile’s injury showed the lack of viable alternatives.
Some have called for Balotelli to be brought back into the Nazionale fold by his old Inter and Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini.
“We are not a side like France, who have the likes of Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappé and Olivier Giroud,” Enock Barwuah told Notizie.com.
“With all due respect for Italy, we don’t have that kind of a selection in attack. This is why someone like Balotelli cannot be ignored, even just as part of the squad.”
Balotelli is now 31 years old and currently playing in Turkey for Adana Demirspor, where he has five goals and two assists in 13 official matches.
“I don’t understand how Mario can be left at home. He might not have the most extraordinary record at his various clubs, but when he pulls on the Italy jersey, he is transformed,” continued SuperMario’s brother.
“It’s disappointing that when it comes to Mario, people don’t look at what he does on the pitch, but rather what happens off it. He loves the Nazionale so much and hasn’t played for Italy for four years, despite scoring more than many others who were called up.
“Look, he will never do what Immobile and Andrea Belotti do, he is not one who works that hard for the team, but he has other characteristics and can create a goal out of nowhere.
“For a team that is struggling to score goals, he’d be ideal.”
Balotelli scored 14 goals in 36 senior caps for Italy, making his debut in August 2010.
His most recent appearance in the Azzurri jersey was in a 1-1 Nations League draw with Poland on September 7, 2018.
Enock Balotelli: “L’Italia non è la francia, non può permettersi di lasciare a casa Mario” https://t.co/nO6kGE29Y1
— TuttoJuve.com (@TUTTOJUVE_COM) November 16, 2021
He’s got a point.
Please….please…..Let’s stop talking nonsense….. This guy had his chance, and blew it (along with his life) away with poor discipline. And he’s not even as talented as most people thing. Just another tragic tale of wasted youth. We spent years re-obtaining team spirit. We don’t need this idiot to come and ruin it all. Stay in Turkey. Begone forever. Neither La Nazionale, nor Serie A, nor world soccer, need to see you anymore.
No and never. Balotelli is a trouble maker and blew up his chances with every team he played for. Italy is lacking a true striker but this guy is not the solution.
Where the italy who score record amount of goals in the Euro 2020 qualifying group.
9 goals against Azerbaijan
Montella is coaching him now. He would help. Time for Acerbi to go to. Yes to Mario, bye to Acerbi and Emerson
Insigne-Balotelli-Chiesa
Barella-Pellegrini-Veratti
Spinna-Bonucci-Mancini-DiLorenzo
Reserves:Jorginho,Zaniolo,Berardi,Locatelli, Chiellini, Bastoni
This is nonsense…enough already.
The man who neber had enough discipline and wasted his career at ths top level is ideal huh?
Boy oh boy next you’ll be saying graziano pelle and osvaldo are perfect fits.
Ah yes the mercurial Balotelli, who has never had a 20 goal season. He’s definitely the answer. You talk about overrated players, I can’t believe people are still talking about this guy. You’d think he was Baggio or something.
Didn’t I just say he was our prodigal son!
And the most gifted Italian striker!
Too funny!
Why even publish this article. Of course his brother is going to say that. The rest of us know that Mario is ,and has always been, a lazy and undisciplined footballer.
It’s easy to focus on Mario’s negatives. It’s been a long time since he’s done anything significant.
However can anyone tell me that when he scored screamers against Brazil and Germany back in the day, that you didn’t instantly feel pride in Mario in the Azzurri shirt.
It would be the greatest comeback in football history, atonement for 2014.
I don’t really care that Mario hasn’t scored 20 goals a season. I care that he can pick the ball up 30 yards from goal and stick it into the top corner. That he can hold the ball up like no other Italian striker. That he being the ball down on a six pence and bring his teammates into the game. That he so unpredictable that he just might be the cherry on the cake we need.
SuperMario lifting the World Cup, can you imagine?
Balo is not the ideal solution but at least his physicality can intimidate the defenders like the northern Irelanders and create some space for others to score. He’s definitely better than Immobile and Belotti who will fall on the ground for the slightest challenge and beg for a penalty ( that Jorginho will waste anyway). Until some good young talented strikers emerge (in half a century) there are really no good options!
I forgot to mention that he’s a reliable penalty taker as well.
To all the people who have criticized the idea of Balotelli playing for Italy, I would ask have you not been watching Italy play? Have you not seen that we are in the play offs and potentially going to miss another world cup precisely because we cannot score….even from the penalty spot? Look at the options we have up front in Serie A. The best 2 at the moment are Immobile and Belotti. Need I say more. I would love for someone to come to the fore, as has happened in the past with Schillaci, Altobelli, Riva etc but if you watch Serie A at all, you will know that we have precisely no-one ready to step up to the plate and the world cup is barely 12 months away. Balotelli may be a gamble but he is better than what we currently have.
Balotelli was a phenomenon and his physical presence is something we Janet had since Vieri. It is tragic that his lack of discipline and immaturity destroyed his career.
Yet look at one of his latest goals with his current team – amazing powerful shot that few could hit from outside the box. And he did it n his own with little support- that is what our current strikers lack. They need the perfect pass and can’t create havoc or dribble for that reason. He is a huge talent and a huge risk.
That’s very through he is best then orders, he must come inn I support that very well
No way! Listen Italy all time top scorer has only 35 goals! Luca Toni was our 9 and he didn’t break records! Inzaghi the same at international level! I’d stop worrying! Insigne has been poor as has Chiesa! Get them back in form and it will ease the pressure! I can’t remember the last 9 we had that banged in goals for fun! Vieri once but again he didn’t break records
Wow. I am stunned by all this football insight ; criticism about Mario Balotelli, without a single better option. You’re all great at pointing out a mans flaws – on and off the pitch – lots of hatred disguised as knowledge of someone as being “bad” in both character and talent.
Only thing missing…
A single other option.
If Balotelli is such a poor (in in many of your minds, also the stupidest thing to talk about) option, how come you can’t submit a better option ?
By the way, Immobile did zero during the Euros – he was a moving person who shot the ball a few times and failed to score. People shine and are dull sometimes.
Perspective
No.
But what can we do when those are disciplined and well behaved cannot score, even against Northern Island?
Swallow pride and include him. We must do anything by hook or by crook to get to Qatar.
Good god no. Please please don’t start this rubbish again. NO
I’m still waiting for the punchline in this article…
Italy has a tradition of not able to handle superstars. Balotelli is just another example. Who cares if he is selfish or lackadaisical at times. Players like him and in any team sport, find a way to succeed in the most extreme situation. I believe the sports media in Italy is the root of all the negativity labelling Balotelli as the bad guy brainwashing soccer fans in Italy.
@Ben, it’s not that he’s a bad guy, it’s that he’s just not that good. With that being said, he would be an upgrade over Belotti.
First of all, I dont know how well he has been playing in Turkey, but considering the article mentioned 5 goals in 13 games is decent enough I suppose. Italy need that little bit of X factor, the unpredictability that none of the current crop of the strikers have. I think there is no disadvantage to bring him for the playoff, afterall you need all the tools available to you. Of course the hopeless romantics like us would love to see him carry Italy to the WC, what a great redemption story it would be indeed.
The problem with Mario is not his talent. The problem is his discipline. He gets red cards. That’s a problem. He’s always yelling at the ref. If he could just leave the ref alone, not do stupid fouls, and have and show ultimate discipline they could win the World Cup. He’s a risk. Plus he’s gotta be in shape. Cassano did it. He must prove himself before March. This would bd his last chance.
Also, Italy just won the Euros without him. They need to put the ball in the net. I believe a lengthy and intense training camp is in order.
risk / reward is the problem with balo… i say this as a supporter of the player on the pitch during a 90 min game, not necessarily the man… agreed that he may disrupt the chemistry built up since mancini took over but currently none of the strikers can do what he does up top. then you have to worry about the cards he WILL accumulate because the opposing teams know how to get into his head at times, not discounting the abuse that WILL be hurled at him for that first playoff game which will be in italy (think that’s one of the main reasons he left to play for another country)
My vote is for Balo!
Most of you do have a point as it is true he has misbehaved, however other than against Costa Rica, he has always given 100% for the Nazionale. I would certainly consider him if he is playing well in Turkey. Montella could really help him change. At present our weakness is the attack so hopefully someone like Paolo Rossi and Salvatore Schilacci may just pop up from now until March. Fingers crossed.
Yes , I was thinking another Paolo Rossi . We do need something, even a bit of competition would be nice
He hasn’t shown any indication in several years he could fill that role. It’s not just his behavior – he hasn’t succeeded at the highest level in a very long time. He couldn’t score for Brescia. I’m sorry this is a desperate and horrible idea. Keep Balo away from anything you hold sacred.
Donaromma.ranocchia.bastoni.de Lorenzo.briaghi. verreti.davide fresetti.locateli.chisea.zaniolo.lorenzo lucca.
Definitely need this guy, bring him back!
“There are no rewards without risk”.
Don’t forget Napoli took on a risk with Maradona and we all know what happened. Not saying Mario is anywhere in the league of Maradona but…..if you don’t risk something you’ll never gain anything.
Balotelli all the way,he fit all required criteria for selection and the past is the past
I say Mario all the way .the key is to play him the ball as often as possible. Give him six or seven shots inside or near the box he will put three in the back of the net , can we do any worse
Oh boy, slow day at office huh?
When you can’t threaten to score against Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and even Switzerland then you got problems. The current strikers just aren’t doing it. Would balo have done worse. I don’t think so. Italy strikers are midgets. Balo has size muscle and speed will attract attention and open space.
Super Mario, Immobile or Belotti?? I’d take Balotelli all the way.. he’s the kinda striker that the Italian national team needed right now.. apart from his antics, he actually a decent forward.. he could score, he could assist, he could hold up the ball well, and could help to build the play as well which the other two striker ive mentioned above lack of..
I believe if Mario is given yet another chance he will surely deliver to expectation; of cause he must have to show respect and discipline: this could be his last best chance who knows?