Balotelli pushes for Italy recall, says Spalletti’s current selections not better than him

Mario Balotelli has reiterated his eagerness for a return to the Italian national team, questioning coach Luciano Spalletti’s selections.

In an interview with TvPlay, Balotelli took a subtle jab at Italy’s current national team choices, specifically mentioning Giacomo Raspadori and Gianluca Scamacca.

The Adana Demirspor striker, who last featured for Italy in September 2018, said, “If I’m well, I still consider myself the strongest.

“Did Raspadori and Scamacca play yesterday (Monday)? How many shots did they take combined? Two? I want to recover and play for the national team,” he added.

Balotelli, known for his unpredictable career and controversial reaction to situations, has found himself back in the spotlight with Adana Demirspor, scoring three goals in five appearances this season.

Despite his reputation as a volatile player, his track record with the Azzurri includes 14 goals in 36 caps, with memorable performances like a Euro 2012 semi-final brace against Germany.

While expressing his hope for a national team call-up, Balotelli clarified that he has no personal relationship with Italy’s current coach, Spalletti.

Recall that Italy qualified for the 2024 Euro tournament after a controversial 0-0 draw against Ukraine on Monday.