The striker Mario Balotelli has recalled Italy coach Roberto Mancini more than three years
after the last time he played for the Azzurri to attend a training camp in the lead up to
2022’s World Cup qualifying play-offs, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced on
Monday.
The 31-year-old Balotelli was among several surprises to be called up, such as Brazil’s Joao
Pedro, an Italian citizen.
The latter was recently granted the right by the Italian Football Federation to represent
Italy.
Mancini plans to make the most of the three-day training camp held at Italy’s national
training center located at Coverciano close to Florence before the tense play-offs scheduled
for late March in the finals against North Macedonia in the event of a win or Portugal, either
Portugal or Turkey.
Balotelli The striker, who has made his last 36 international appearances in September of
2018 and recorded 14 goals in Italy, currently plays for newly promoted Turkish club Adana
Demirspor.
Balotelli frequently scored with Nice during two years in France before a brief period with
Marseille before moving swiftly to Brescia again in Italy and finally Monza within the Italian
league Serie B.
He was previously a player with both Milan clubs and was able to win the league title three
times with Inter; however, discipline issues have plagued much of his career, even though
he was a star for Italy at Euro 2012 — that season also saw him win the Premier League
with City.
Cagliari striker Pedro a, ex- Brazilian, Lazio defender Luiz Felipe 24, who has also obtained
Italian citizenship, was summoned.
Brazil-born Atalanta Atalanta defender Rafael Toloi made his Italy debut in 2012 in the Euro
2020 winning team.
Five newcomers include goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi (Cremonese), defender Giorgio
Scalvini (Atalanta) and midfielders Davide Frattesi (Sassuolo), Nicolo Fagioli (Cremonese)
and Samuele Ricci (Empoli).
Alongside those who were not available due to injury, Federico Chiesa, Leonardo
Spinazzola, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Leonardo Bonucci Andrea BelottiOthers who are
regulars were also not selected like Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti and
Chelsea’s Jorginho.
The European champions did not make it to their place in the 2019 World Cup finals for the
first time in over 60 years after they were eliminated in a play-off with two legs against
Sweden.
