Balotelli omitted from Italy for technical reasons

Italy head coach Giampiero Ventura revealed Nice striker Mario Balotelli is not in his squad due to ‘technical reasons’ despite the the 26-year-old’s glittering form for the Ligue 1 leaders.

Balotelli has scored six goals in as many Ligue 1 games but Ventura feels the player must play for longer before making his way back into the national side.

“As I said more than once, Balotelli is not part of the team for technical reasons. I mean, quality wise, Balotelli is an important player. Apparently he had other problems. When people talk about him, no one doubts his quality skills, but instead other aspects of the player,” the coach stressed.

“Obviously there are questions he should ask to himself. Let’s not forget that two months are not enough to be back in the national team. He has not been playing for almost one year and a half. You cannot think that in two months the history of a person can change.

“I have also said that I will talk to Balotelli to understand how willing he is to change,” he added.

Ventura warned his side must be careful in their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein in order to avoid any ‘bad surprises.’

Ventura’s team currently sit in second place in Group G, level on points with leaders Spain while their opponents on Friday are yet to register a point and sit bottom of the group.

“As for Liechtenstein we are talking about a qualifying match that we can win but we have to win it firstly. In my experience I have learnt that you cannot win a game before playing it.

“I have watched the way they play, I remember the 8-0 defeat against Spain but I have also noticed that until the 65th minute it was only 1-0 without so many goal chances. This means that Liechtenstein is a national team that we can beat but it is also a game that must be prepared carefully to avoid bad surprises.”