The Manchester City forward insists that his axe from the friendly against USA was harsh; admits to the respect for the code of ethics but maintains he is innocent.
Mario Balotelli is disappointed for being dropped from the national team squad for the friendly against USA recently.
The striker insisted that he values the worth of the Italian jersey more than what it feels to represent Barcelona or Real Madrid.
While talking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the forward said:
"I felt so bad about it. I often say in the dressing room: Barcelona? Real? For me, there is no shirt more fascinating than that of Italy, because of the feeling which comes with representing the national team.”
Balotelli was dropped by Cesare Prandelli after the striker was charged for disciplinary action after stamping Tottenham Hotspur’s, Scott Parker, in a league game recently. The Manchester City goal-scorer has also been sent-off
three times since his arrival from Inter Milan in 2010.
The former Italy under-21 international’s poor behaviour has been the subject of media reports on regular basis in the recent past, and Prandelli is considering leaving him out from his Euro 2012 squad.
Balotelli admitted that he is looking forward to the European Championship, which is due to start in June this year. He regretted Italy’s defeat to the USA, and insisted that leaving him out of the match was a grave punishment
for him.
"I often think about the European Championship. I was sad to have lost the friendly in Genoa. There is an ethics code that which I respect, but I think I did not deserve this."
The 21-year-old believes that he was castigated for a punishment he did not commit. He stressed that the fact that Manchester City did not appeal against the four-match ban does not imply the club’s concurrence to his guilt.
"If you watch it in slow motion, it appears that I hit him on purpose. I do not kick people who are on the ground. If City had appealed, I would have played the match against Liverpool, but then I would be banned for five matches,
had we lost the appeal.”
Italy are due to play another friendly before the Euro 2012, and Balotelli is hopeful that he will be recalled to the squad.
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