Mario Balotelli featured for Adana Demirspor in their 2-2 friendly draw with Napoli yesterday, and he took the opportunity he underlined why he never joined the Partenopei despite his dreams.
The 31-year-old Italian striker is currently plying his trade in Turkey, where he scored 18 goals in 31 Super Lig games last season. Balotelli has finally started to show signs of his magic again following a difficult period in his career, leading to some fans to ask Roberto Mancini to bring him back into the Azzurri squad.
Speaking to Sky Sports Italia, Balotelli first discussed his interest in playing for Napoli and why it never happened.
“I’ve always said that it would be a dream for me to play at Napoli. Unfortunately I respect De Laurentiis so much but I think he never wanted that and that’s why I never came to Naples.”
He touched on his physical condition heading into the new season.
“I’m very well, physically I’m very well, the qualities are there, we’ll see.”
Finally, Balotelli spoke about the Italian national team and his desire to represent his nation once again. In 2018, after the appointment of Mancini, the former Inter striker found himself in the squad again, but things have faded since then.
“Don’t let me talk about it, you know my thoughts. The national team is the most beautiful thing there is, then everyone makes their own choices and I will always respect them.”
lets see if napoli get him, hes called napoli
Mario Balotelli is one of the best striker in football history 👏
Such a wasted talent and definitely not all his fault. He’s been ostracized or excluded from National team and Serie A for years including during his prime and its disgraceful Mancini refuses to bring him back to the National team but instead is loyal to absolute trash like Immobile, Insigne. Bernardeschi and Bellotti who are worthless. Balotelli is Italian thru and through and bleeds the Tricolor and would could anything to represent Italy and that’s the kind of player I want on my team unlike these other players who only want to go on vacation and primp in front of the mirror.
he is a good lad.
he has been mistreated.
yet he is to be blamed as well for wasting his career.
he would have been one of the best strikers in the world.
certainly blame the media, and racism which made it worse!
hopefully such redemption will compensate on some of the lost years!
Mancini is an idiot. Super Mario is one of the best forward in football.
I am sure he would have got one goal against Macedonia if he was selected
Reconsider super Mario into the Italian national team.