Roberto Mancini will name his Italy squad for the World Cup play-offs today and there are mixed reports on whether Mario Balotelli will be part of the squad.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Inter and Milan striker won’t be part of the team that will play the World Cup play-offs next week. The pink paper reports that Mancini will likely call Joao Pedro instead as the Cagliari striker is more versatile and can play as a centre forward or as a winger.
On the contrary, Il Corriere dello Sport reports that Balotelli will be part of the team and will land in Italy tomorrow after a game against Basaksehir in the Turkish league. Both papers report that Andrea Belotti, Domenico Berardi, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne, Giacomo Raspadori, Gianluca Scamacca, Nicolò Zaniolo and Mattia Zaccagni will be included in the squad.
Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci will be called up despite being not 100% fit and will likely miss the game with North Macedonia. Manuel Locatelli may also receive a call despite testing positive for COVID yesterday. He may recover for the potential Final.
The Azzurri will face North Macedonia in the semi-finals at the Renzo Barbera in Palermo on March 24 and could meet Portugal or Turkey in the Final on March 29, which will be played away from home.
Balotelli played his last game with the Azzurri in 2018 but returned to Coverciano during the international break in January for a get-together during which no games were played.
I am over the moon. He has matured and he is obviously playing well so absolutely correct to call him up again. Now lets concentrate and play well fast and precise and most of all score and do not concede.
If Italy are going to count on Balotelli of all people for this crucial tie then we’re already out before it’s even begun.
Surely they are not playing North Macedonia on the 24th and then Portugal or Turkey on the 25th
Balotelli will surely add value to the team. keep getting matured bro, take responsibility and show them that you can deliver.
That’s right Dennis…surely not. Typo from FI. It’s the 29th.
I’d like to see him there. He has been playing well and can add an extra punch to |Italy’s attack.