Italy manager Roberto Mancini believes Mario Balotelli is throwing his talent away. The former Manchester City manager urged Ballotelli to “wake up” before he finally throws his career away.
Balotelli, who currently plays for Brescia is expected to soon depart the Serie A side after failing to live up to team standards set by manager Diego Lopez.
According to recent reports, Balotelli missed training sessions with Brescia following the coronavirus pandemic.
Although the forward has repudiated those claims, President of Brescia Massimo Cellino has announced that Balotelli’s time at the club is coming to an end.
Inspite of all these happenings, Roberto Mancini who managed the ‘controversial’ striker at Man city and once had a training ground burst up with him at Man city still believes in his potentials and urges him to turn things around.
“I care for him, regardless of all the things he does,” Mancini told RAI Sport.
“I trained him when he was still just a kid, I played him and he was extraordinary for many years. My hope is that he will do something to change all this, as he’s still only 30 years old and would be at the peak of his football maturity.
“I hope one day he wakes up and realises he’s still throwing his talent away. Mario is an extraordinary lad, so kind and polite. I have explained to him many times that he is throwing his talent away, because his potential is remarkable.”
Balotelli played under Mancini at Inter Milan and at Man City. Mancini in May 2018 awarded Balotelli his first call up to the Italy squad since 2014 when he took over as coach.