Soccer: Balotelli 'needs to mature'
Not ready for Italy call-up, Lippi says
16 March, 15:00
(ANSA) - Rome, March 16 - Inter Milan striker Mario
Balotelli needs to mature before he can earn an Italy call-up,
Azzurri coach Marcello Lippi said Tuesday."Balotelli is a lad with great gifts. I'm sure, I'm certain, that when he becomes mature he can put those gifts at Italy's disposal," Lippi said about the Under-21 striker after he was dropped from Inter's squad for Tuesday's Champions League last 16 second leg at Chelsea.
Asked if Balotelli might be mature enough before the World Cup, Lippi replied. "Well, it seems that even at Inter..." Inter coach Jose' Mourinho did not confirm or deny reports that Balotelli was dropped against Chelsea because of a rumoured spat or renewed lack of discipline in training.
The Inter coach has in the past questioned Balotelli's commitment.
Lippi was also asked about whether race played a part in his thinking about Balotelli, who was born in Palermo of Ghanaian immigrant parents.
"Everyone knows I'm against any form of racism," the coach replied.
"There's only one race, the human race".
Lippi pointed out that Balotelli was doing well in the Under-21 side along with two other young black strikers, Nigerian-Italian Stefano Okaka of AS Roma and Torino's Angelo Ogbonna, also a child of Nigerian immigrants.
"If I decide to call Balotelli up I'll do it exclusively for technical reasons, not racial ones," the coach said.
Balotelli has played 16 times for the Under-21 team since 2008 and scored six goals.
For Inter, he has put in 54 appearances since 2007, scoring 18 goals.
