{"id":220273,"date":"2025-10-13T00:08:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T00:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/220273\/"},"modified":"2025-10-13T00:08:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T00:08:11","slug":"balotelli-has-one-major-criticism-of-italy-national-team-i-dont-like-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/220273\/","title":{"rendered":"Balotelli has one major criticism of Italy national team: \u2018I don\u2019t like it\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GENOA,<\/p>\n

GENOA, ITALY – DECEMBER 21: Mario Balotelli of Genoa looks on during the Serie A match between Genoa and Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on December 21, 2024 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Cult hero Mario Balotelli has given his assessment of the current Italy national team and has highlighted one area where Gennaro Gattuso and his staff may find an issue: \u2018I don\u2019t like it\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Balotelli was among the guest speakers at the Festival dello Sport in Trento this weekend, along with the likes of Luciano Spalletti<\/a>, Roberto Mancini<\/a>, Zlatan Ibrahimovic<\/a> and Zinedine Zidane<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Balotelli on Italy national team: \u2018Lack of desire, I don\u2019t like it\u2019<\/p>\n

The 35-year-old, who most recently turned out for Genoa in 2024-25, took to the stage on Sunday and gave his honest assessment of the current crop of Italy players.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He feels that the current Italy squad does not have the same \u2018desire\u2019 to wear the Azzurri shirt that had been a given in years gone by.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"FormerMario Balotelli watches the celebrations after the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, on June 10, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE \/ AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, the national team is a big talking point. This isn\u2019t an attack on anyone, but a lot of times, I see players play for the national team without that desire to defend the nation\u2019s jersey, and I don\u2019t like it,\u201d Balotelli said, (via TMW<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was in the national team, I was proud to represent Italy, and this is what\u2019s missing for me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Balotelli was also asked if he feels that he is the last \u2018true\u2019 centre-forward to represent Italy internationally, to which he replied: \u201cThat\u2019s what they tell me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

There may still be hope for Italy\u2019s striking department, with young talents Fracesco Pio Esposito and Francesco Camarda beginning to break through.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"FrancescoFrancesco Pio Esposito celebrates for Italy (@DAZN_IT)<\/p>\n

On Esposito, Balotelli said: \u201cHe\u2019s very strong, it\u2019s great that he scored (against Estonia).\u201d And, on Camarda, he added: \u201cThese are strong players, you can see they have lots of talent and quality, but you need to give them time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

And on whether Italy will qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Balotelli said: \u2018But of course, come on, I\u2019m convinced that we\u2019ll get to this one.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n


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