Rome (AFP) – Italy coach Roberto Mancini expressed his regret Thursday that striker Mario Balotelli hadn’t found himself a club during the transfer window, arguing the striker would have been “very useful” for the national team.
“I am very sorry to see him in these conditions. At 30, he would still be at full technical maturity and would have been very useful to the Italy team,” said Mancini, his former coach at Inter Milan and Manchester City.
“I wish him the best and I hope good things can still come his way,” the Italy coach said in an online interview with the le Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport newspapers.
Balotelli has scored 14 goals in his 36 international appearances, his last run-out for the Azzurri coming in September 2018.
After time spent with Nice and Marseille in the French Ligue 1, Balotelli pitched up last season at Brescia, but was unable to prevent the club being relegated to Serie B.
The relegation of his home town club activated a clause in his contract that made him a free agent.
200+ Channels With Sports & News
- Starting price: $33/mo. for fubo Latino Package
- Watch Premier League, Women’s World Cup, Euro 2024 & Gold Cup
The New Home of MLS
- Price: $14.99/mo. for MLS Season Pass
- Watch every MLS game including playoffs & Leagues Cup
Many Sports & ESPN Originals
- Price: $10.99/mo. (or get ESPN+, Hulu & Disney+ for $14.99/mo.)
- Features Bundesliga, LaLiga, Championship, & FA Cup
2,000+ soccer games per year
- Price: $5.99/mo
- Features Champions League, Serie A, Europa League & Brasileirāo
175 Premier League Games & PL TV
- Starting price: $5.99/mo. for Peacock Premium
- Watch 175 exclusive EPL games per season