Italy will call up Balotelli for the 2022 World Cup

DBasia.news – The Italian national team coach, Roberto Mancini, prepared a big surprise ahead of the 2022 World Cup play-offs. He plans to call the missing player, Mario Balotelli.

Italy failed to secure an automatic ticket to the 2022 World Cup finals. Gli Azzurri only finished runner-up in Group C in the European zone qualifying round as they lost to compete with Switzerland.

Italy was forced to play a play-off to receive a ticket to Qatar. Unfortunately, they are on the same path as Portugal.

Italy’s misfortune increased after a number of key players were injured. Federico Chiesa is one name that is confirmed to be absent from the play-offs, next March.

Mancini also has to figure out how to find a solution to overcome the absence of Chiesa. Balotelli then emerged as an option.

Balotelli is starting to show his quality with Turkish club, Adana Demirspor. The 31-year-old player has scored 7 goals and provided 2 assists in 18 matches in the domestic league.

These statistics make Mancini tempted to call Balotelli. Though the person concerned has been forgotten in the last three years.

According to Sky Sports reports, Mancini and Balotelli have already established communication. The former Inter Milan player is almost certain to be involved in the upcoming play-offs.

Balotelli last played for Italy in September 2018 against Poland in the UEFA Nations League. The last time he scored a goal at international level was four months earlier.

Theres a reason why Mancini continued to give Balotelli a chance. The two already know each other having worked together at Inter and Manchester City.

Italy will start their journey in the play-0ff round by hosting North Macedonia. If they win, they will go head to head with the winner of the match between Portugal and Turkey for a ticket to the finals.