Italy snub Balotelli for Euro 2016 qualifiers
Coach Conte names 27-man squad for Azerbaijan, Norway clashes
AC Milan's forward from Italy Mario Balotelli, pictured on August 29, 2015, was snubbed as Italy coach Antonio Conte revealed a 27-man squad for the Azzurri's final 2016 qualifiers. PHOTO: AFP
MILAN:
AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli was snubbed as Italy coach Antonio Conte revealed a 27-man squad for the Azzurri’s final Euro 2016 qualifiers with Azerbaijan and Norway.
Balotelli returned to seven-time European champions Milan on loan from Liverpool this summer in a bid to kick-start his flagging career.
But the Italian has started only two games for Milan this season, hitting his first goal in a 3-2 win over Udinese a fortnight ago.
Balotelli has not trained with Milan this week as he recovers from a slight muscle injury, and has not been called into Sinisa Mihajlovic’s squad for Sunday’s game against Napoli.
Italy coach Conte instead handed Domenico Berardi of Sassuolo his first call-up to the Italy set-up, which also
welcomes the return of Riccardo Montolivo following the Milan midfielder’s recent recovery from a lengthy injury problem.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2015.
AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli was snubbed as Italy coach Antonio Conte revealed a 27-man squad for the Azzurri’s final Euro 2016 qualifiers with Azerbaijan and Norway.
Balotelli returned to seven-time European champions Milan on loan from Liverpool this summer in a bid to kick-start his flagging career.
But the Italian has started only two games for Milan this season, hitting his first goal in a 3-2 win over Udinese a fortnight ago.
Balotelli has not trained with Milan this week as he recovers from a slight muscle injury, and has not been called into Sinisa Mihajlovic’s squad for Sunday’s game against Napoli.
Italy coach Conte instead handed Domenico Berardi of Sassuolo his first call-up to the Italy set-up, which also
welcomes the return of Riccardo Montolivo following the Milan midfielder’s recent recovery from a lengthy injury problem.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2015.