The Azzurri boss is delighted with the striker's desire to join the Blues squad before the Euro 2012; insists that the Manchester City striker is an important player.
Cesare Prandelli omitted Mario Balotelli from his Italy squad for the recent international friendly against USA.
Gli Azzurri boss was unhappy with the former Inter Milan striker’s on and off the field behaviour, and insisted that he wants mature players in his team.
Balotelli defended himself in a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, and also expressed his profound desire to play for the Italian team before the Euro 2012.
The former Fiorentina manager insisted that the aim behind snubbing Balotelli from the squad was not to draw an apology from the striker, but to ensure respect for rules of the game. He expressed his delight over the forward's
reaction to the strict action taken against him.
While talking to the Gazzetta, the Azzurri chief said:
“I’m happy with what Mario said about the national side and his desire to be part of the group. I wasn’t wanting an apology, I just want all the players to have the respect for the rules which have been put into place.”
The 21-year old has been surrounded with a host of disciplinary issues, and has been shown a red-card three times during his short career with Manchester City so far.
Prandelli, however, insisted that he has always valued and encouraged Balotelli’s talent, but it is important for him to be assured of the player’s commitment to the game and its rules.
“Mario knows that I consider him to be an important player, I speak about him as a first teamer, but there has to be some guarantees that I can count on him.”
Roberto Mancini, the striker’s manager at Manchester City, recently suggested marriage as the cure to the player’s irrational and often self-destructive behaviour. The Azzurri boss, however, said that it is a personal matter, and
better be left for the individual to decide himself.
“Giampiero Boniperti used to advise me of the same thing all of the time [at Juventus]. They were different times though. It’s a decision that he’ll have to make.”
Balotelli is expected to get a recall in the national team squad for Italy’s last friendly before the European competition.
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