Next week, Mario Balotelli has been summoned to the Italy practice camp to ensure that the coach Roberto Mancini, speaking on Wednesday night, can assess whether the striker can “help” in the World Cup playoffs in March.
“What has he promised me? Absolutely nothing,” Mancini stated during a press conference online shortly before the start of the three-day training camp in Florence.
The 31-year-old striker plays at his 10th place club Adana Demirspor in Turkey after spending the last year playing in Serie B with Monza.
“He was called up as others have been called up. We are curious to see him again after a little time,” said Mancini, who was coach Balotelli in as well Inter Milan and Manchester City and then recalled him in the year 2018 following an absence of four years from the national squad for the final 3 of 36 Italy caps.
“He must not promise me anything, as I must not promise him anything. We will evaluate if he can help.”
“Technically, Mario has always been good; it’s not a problem. We have to see where he is physical. We’ve lost sight of him a little bit,” Mancini said.
Mancini has called 35 players into the training camp to prepare for the Play-Offs.
In 2018, Italy missed the World Cup for the first time in 60 years following a loss to Sweden by 1-0 in a two-leg play-off.
To qualify for Qatar, Italy must beat first Northern Macedonia at home on March 24, and then Portugal or Turkey in a game scheduled for March 29.
“What is also fundamental is that a player is integrated into an existing group, a group that has had good results,” Mancini said. Mancini was the one to lead Italy in winning its European title in July.
Mancini has rejected claims that the recall of Balotelli was a “desperate” move.
“The door of the national team is always open to everyone,” he added.
Mancini stated that his primary “concern” was not losing players who were injured.
At-back Federico Chiesa, one of the most popular players of Euro 2020, is out until the season’s end.
Left-back Leonardo Spinazzola suffered an Achilles tendon injury during the tournament and will be not playing for the remainder of the season.
