Balotelli wants to help Italy solve the problem of attack
During the first rally of 2023, Mancini complained about the lack of options in attack. Main striker Ciro Immobile is injured, while Giacomo Raspadrori and Andrea Belotti are not called up because of their lackluster roles at Napoli and Roma.
Instead, Mancini chose Gianluca Scamacca, Wilfried Gnonto and gave his first chance to the national team to Mateo Retegui - a striker who plays for Atletico Tigre in Argentina. In particular, Retegui scored on his debut when Italy lost 1-2 to England at Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli in the opening match of Group C of Euro 2024 qualifying on March 23.
Italy's attack declined after winning Euro 2021. In the last four matches of the group stage of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Europe, the Azzurri only scored two goals. Italy had to pay the price when only ranked second in Group C, leading to having to play a play-off round to win tickets, where they lost 0-1 to North Macedonia right at Renzo Barbera's home ground, in Palermo. After this match, Marianna Puolo, mother of coach Roberto Mancini, said that her son made the mistake of not using Balotelli in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
On March 25, in a post on Instagram Story, Balotelli objected to Mancini's statements. "There are other Italian strikers and they are healthy, believe me," he wrote.
Balotelli added in the second post: "Regret is the feeling people often have when they don't learn their lesson and have that feeling after everything is over. that feeling after everything is over. Or They simply never had that feeling."
Balotelli scored 14 goals in 36 games, with the last time playing for Italy was the Nations League in September 2018. The 32-year-old striker's most memorable moment was a brace in the Euro 2012 semi-final victory over Germany 2-1. He was summoned by Mancini to prepare for a short training trip in early 2022, but did not appear in the official matches after that.
Balotelli has played for many famous clubs, including Inter Milan, Man City, AC Milan, Liverpool, Nice or Marseille. In the summer of 2022, the Italian striker joined the Swiss club Sion and scored five goals in 14 matches in the league this season.
A few hours later, at the press conference before the match against Malta in the second round of Group C of the Euro 2024 qualifying round, Mancini was asked about Balotelli's message. The 58-year-old coach replied: "What should I say to Balotelli? I'm glad the Italian strikers are healthy. But I don't know who Balotelli is referring to? Could it be him? I love Balotelli, and hope I hope he can be really fit."
Later, Mancini said he had been following Retegui for a long time. He praised his students as a young, smart, determined striker but did not guarantee Retegui would start against Malta today. "He also has to be evaluated physically. Retegui plays in Argentina and many things have to be evaluated," Mancini said.
When asked about the wingers' lack of support for Retegui, Mancini replied: "Retegui has to help himself. He needs time to understand the technical specifications of his teammates. But it is clear in the 4th formation. -3-3, the attackers have to help the centre-forward. Basically the wingers get past the opposition and get the ball into the box. This is where Retegui is very strong."
Mancini also defended Retegui speaking Spanish on his Italy debut. "That's another reason you have to be patient," he explains. "Retegui has only been on the Italian team for three days, how can he speak Italian? What if Retegui's grandfather knows Italian? It's a pointless argument. When Retegui can communicate in Italian, everything will be easy. than".
