Raiola pipes up over Balotelli omission

Ian Watson

Agent Mino Raiola has criticised Italy coach Luigi Di Biagio and the national federation following Mario Balotelli’s omission from the latest Azzurri squad.

The Nice striker was hoping for a recall after netting 22 goals this term but Di Biagio opted to call-up uncapped duo Patrick Cutrone and Federico Chiesa instead

Explaining his reasons, Di Biagio said: “I’ll keep following him and we’ll see what happens in the next few months.

“Scoring goals is very important for forwards but this must be complemented by their performances. I made my evaluations and took a decision for the good of the team.”

That wasn’t good enough for Balotelli’s agent Raiola.

“We’re disappointed with the failure to call-up Balotelli,” he told Radio 24.

“We’re even more disappointed with the explanation we received, publicly because we haven’t spoken to anyone.

“If Di Biagio says that numbers don’t count for a striker then the national team is closed for players like him.

“The problem isn’t the coach – it’s the football system. We have a federation that works without a plan, an idea for the future.

“The national team should be represented by the best, so if the best don’t go then we don’t understand the criteria.

“In other nations, when the national team plays, it’s a party but for us it’s a reason to fight. There’s no plan or identity, all we do is change the manager.

“I would restart from the German system. We have a system similar to the English one, where the coach works as a manager, but Di Biagio isn’t the right person for that.

“When things go well it’s thanks to everyone, but when they go badly the coach takes the blame alone, even if he doesn’t have any problems.

“To have Balotelli in the national team you need a person with a strong character to manage him. Gianpiero Ventura wasn’t that, in fact he was in total confusion and Di Biagio is showing the same thing.

“The striker is just a player who scores, and if the dressing room doesn’t want him then who is saying that? Do they have names and surnames? Do they control the dressing room or does the coach?”