Antonio Conte has warned Mario Balotelli that his Italy squad will be a meritocracy, insisting only those who perform for their clubs will be considered.
Antonio Conte has warned Mario Balotelli that his Italy squad will be a meritocracy, insisting only those who perform for their clubs will be considered.
Speaking on RaiSport’s Il Processo del Lunedi’, the former Juventus” data-scaytid=”6″>Juventus Coach was asked about Liverpool’s summer signing from Milan, who was left out of his first Italy squad for this month’s matches against the Netherlands and Norway.
“In my teams I look at people first as men, and then as players,” Conte has responded.
“Before you take on a player, you must know how strong they are as a human being. In difficulty, it is the man that pulls you out, not the champion.
“There will be a meritocracy, and I will evaluate behaviour both on and off the field.
“To get into the national team you have to prove yourself, and show you deserve it.
“We will only call players who are in top form.”
Conte also evaluated the chances of Italian sides in this season’s Champions League.
“Juventus now have great experience and that matters so much. Roma are outsiders, in what is a very difficult group, but they are enthusiastic, and they can do well.”