Former Man City striker Balotelli earns first Italy call-up since 2018
Italy manager Roberto Mancini has called up Mario Balotelli more than three years after his last appearance for the Azzurri.
Mancini has included Balotelli in a 35-man get-together from January 26-28 ahead of Italy’s World Cup play-off date in March.
The former Liverpool and Manchester City striker, who now plays for Turkish club Adana Demirspor, won the last of his 36 caps in September 2018.
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Balotelli, 31, joined Adana – the 10th club of his colourful career – last July and has scored eight goals in 19 Turkish Super League appearances.
Goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, defenders Luiz Felipe and Giorgio Scalvini, midfielders Nicolo Fagioli, Davide Frattesi and Samuele Ricci and forward Joao Pedro have been called up by Mancini for the first time.
Italy host North Macedonia in their World Cup play-off semi-final on March 24, with the winners away to Portugal or Turkey five days later to vie for a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Mario Balotelli returns to the Italy squad for the first time in four years 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/K5sQCtsA4V
— GOAL (@goal) January 24, 2022
Balotelli was linked with a surprise move to Newcastle United, however, this report was shut down by renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Romano wrote on Twitter: “Rumours linking Mario Balotelli with a move to Newcastle in January are wide of the mark. ‘Fake news’ – comment from sources.”
According to reports, the Magpies are “ready to offer” Jesse Lingard a deal before the end of the transfer window as he “wants to leave” Manchester United.
Lingard was a key player for the Red Devils for five years between 2015 and 2020. He fell down the pecking order in 2020/21.
The 29-year-old is yet to start in the Premier League this season and he is out of contract in June.
ESPN are reporting that Man Utd are “keen to negotiate a permanent” deal for Lingard before the transfer window shuts.
Newcastle are “ready to offer” him a move. But Lingard is only willing to join them on loan as he plans to “assess his options in the summer”.
The report adds that the midfielder is “hoping” that West Ham make a move for him.
