Returning To The Italian National Team, Balotelli Discusses Mancini's Role And His Closeness

JAKARTA - Mario Balotelli returned to the Italian national team after he last played for Gli Azzuri in 2018. Balotelli's return cannot be separated from the role of the coach, Roberto Mancini.

Balotelli and Mancini were previously known to be close and have a good relationship. How not, regarding Balotelli's career, Mancini is a person who has important services.

Mancini was the one who handled Super Mario when he was at Inter Milan. Not only that, it was the coach who then brought Balotelli to Manchester City when he decided to move clubs.

Regarding the closeness that has existed for quite a long time, Balotelli revealed that until now he and Mancini continue to have good relations. Balotelli even expressed the desire for Mancini to be one of the people who saw him end his career later.

"We talked and everything is fine. He gave me a debut and I hope he is the one who saw me end my career," Balotelli said, quoted by Footbat Italia.

Shifting about his summons to the Italian national team, Balotelli did not want it to be something that was too raised. Hopefully, with his still in excellent condition, he can make a big contribution to Gli Azzurri.

"I am in good shape and feeling. At 31 years old, playing for the national team is normal. There is no abnormality here," he said.

"I hope Italy can qualify for the World Cup, they deserve it. I don't know why Italy had to struggle in the play-offs but things like this can happen," continued Balotelli.

Having confirmed his return to the Italian national team, Balotelli will begin his training camp with a number of other players this week.

Careful preparations must be made by Mancini before the team appears in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers. Moreover, Italy has to go through the play-offs because they lost to compete with Switzerland. In the first round of the play-offs Italy will face North Macedonia.