Mario Balotelli not in Italy manager Roberto Mancini's present plans

Italy football team's national coach Roberto Mancini said on Monday that he would not name Mario Balotelli in the national squad simply to make a statement against racism. Balotelli would rather have to earn his place in the team through his performances.

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Balotelli has not been called up by Mancini in more than a year. However, Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina reportedly said that naming him in the squad would send a strong message after the Brescia forward was racially abused in the previous Serie A clash. When he calls up Mario Balotelli, it will be because he deserves it, not because of the colour of his skin, Mancini said in a press conference before the Azzurris play their final Euro 2020 qualifiers.

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Balotelli is yet to settle in a Serie A team

Balotelli scored eight goals in 15 appearances for Marseille last season, having impressed in an early stint with its Ligue 1 rivals Nice. But he had to seal a transfer to Brescia due to the club’s financial conditions. Balotelli was included in the first two matches of Mancini being in-charge. However, he has not been called up since. He was again omitted from the upcoming European qualifier matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Armenia.

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Mancini said that football and sport should unite, not destroy society. He expressed shock at the fact that being in 2020, prejudice with skin colour still exists. He also said that he wishes Balotelli nothing but well and that he is still young enough to achieve a lot. But if he should be recalled, it will be because he is doing well and can help the national team. On the President’s comment, he said that one can think as the president said, but one needs to understand that if Balotelli gets another chance, it will be because he deserves it from a technical point of view. 

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