Mario Balotelli, Roberto Mancini admits error

Roberto Mancini’s words

Roberto Mancini, with a cool mind after missing out on World Cup qualification, admitted that it was a mistake not to have called Balotelli for the matches with Switzerland and Northern Ireland.

“We had had 10 injured players, including Immobile: for a match like that, at a tiring time of the season, calling Mario could have been okay. But mistakes are always made, even when things are going well.”

The national team coach, interviewed by Il Mattino, then added another consideration about Immobile: “He is 30 years old, he has always been a fundamental player for us. I spoke to him in May, I thought he could be summoned but he told me he was not well: I think he would have come, to me he never said he would not come again. For me he is the striker who has scored the most in recent years.”