Italy Boss and Former Captain Take Aim at Mario Balotelli

He may recalled struggling Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli to the Italy squad for their most recent round of international matches, but that doesn’t mean that Azzurri boss Antonio Conte thinks all too highly of the controversial forward.

The 24-year old, who has struggled to find the net since trading the San Siro for Anfield in a big money move at the end of the transfer window, hasn’t exactly impressed the former Juventus boss, or convinced him that he no longer embodies the selfish, bad boy image perpetuated in the press. “I’m not so arrogant as to claim that I’m different from the great coaches, but the past tells us that they failed to change Balotelli,” Conte told Italian media outlet Rai Sport. “It’ll be up to the player, but I don’t have much time and I need certain things.”

Unfortunately, the striker didn’t get the opportunity to show the boss otherwise after pulling up with a groin problem while training ahead of Italy’s crunch Euro-2016 qualifier with Croatia on Friday — though Conte isn’t the only one that Balotelli has to convince with former Azzurri captain Francesco Totti also quick to air his grievances with the mischief maker in a recent interview.

“Regarding Balotelli, every coach has his own ideas and judges what happens on and off the pitch. Advice? No, it’s pointless” the AS Roma great told Gazzetta Dello Sport when asked about the 24-year old. “Everybody gave him some advice, but he doesn’t listen to anybody.”

Must be beat up on Mario day in Italy…