Italy coach Roberto Mancini slammed the door on Mario Balotelli and his attempts to get back into the Azzurri squad. ‘I think that chapter is closed.’
The shortage of forward options during Ciro Immobile’s injury lay-off has seen Mancini go to Argentina for alternatives, bringing in Mateo Retegui from Tigre in Argentina, who is available thanks to Italian ancestry.
Balotelli had tried to propose himself for the Nazionale, having scored 14 goals in 36 senior caps.
“There are Italian strikers out there and they are in good shape – trust me,” he had written on Instagram.
When the name was mentioned to Mancini during today’s interview with reporters at a FIGC event, the CT was dismissive.
“I think that chapter is closed.”
Balotelli is currently playing for Swiss side FC Sion, finding the net five times in 15 Super League games.
The mercurial centre-forward had worked with Mancini at Inter and Manchester City, both experiences culminating in training ground and touchline clashes.
Mancini then recalled Balotelli for Italy, giving him three caps against Saudi Arabia, France and Poland in 2018.
Lol there still isn’t a striker in Italy that can take penalties, free kicks and that can score from 30 meters out. If anything, the closed chapter for be for Mancini instead