Roberto Mancini will hand Mario Balotelli his first Azzurri call up in over three years as he looks to secure qualification to this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Italy have a tough path to this winter’s World Cup, needing to beat North Macedonia and the winner of Turkey-Portugal to book their spot in the competition. Ahead of the upcoming international break, the Azzurri coach has decided to phone up an old friend.
Balotelli will be making his Italy return for the first time since September 2018. The player missed out on the successful Euro 2020 campaign and he was no more than a fan watching Italy finish second in their 2022 World Cup qualifier group behind Switzerland, but now he has the chance to make the difference.
Italy only have a handful of true centre forwards up to the task currently; Ciro Immobile, Andrea Belotti, Gianluca Scamacca and Giacomo Raspadori. The Lazio striker has never replicated his Biancocelesti form with the Azzurri and Belotti is currently out injured. The two Sassuolo forwards, both under 23, only have nine caps between them and so are not the most experienced options.
In this context, it’s easy to see why Mancini has decided to take a punt on Balotelli again. The 31-year-old striker has seemingly re-found his form in Turkey, scoring seven goals in 18 league appearances, and he is an experienced and proven goalscorer, having scored 14 goals in 36 caps for the Azzurri in the past.
Mancini knows that Italy need to be at their best if they want to qualify for the tournament, as a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal will be no push over, and so calling up the temperamental Balotelli is a sign that the Azzurri coach will do whatever’s necessary to qualify for the World Cup.