Balo: Italy exclusion 'not my fault'

By Football Italia staff

Olympique Marseille striker Mario Balotelli has insisted ‘it’s certainly not my fault’ that he is not in the Italy squad.

Balotelli’s contract with Marseille expires next month, and the 28-year-old has been linked with a move to hometown club Brescia after their promotion to Serie A...

“I think I had a positive season, whoever criticises me because I don’t defend is stupid because it’s clear that I’m not a Tevez or Cavani, players who press everywhere,” he told Canal+.

“Maybe I’m crazy on the field because I always want to win, but off it I’m calm and not stupid.

“My crazy image was given to me by British journalists, but I never threw any darts. It’s true that I had a pig at home.

“They told me he was a dwarf, so once he grew I had to give him up. I don’t rule out staying at Marseille, but I haven’t talked to the directors.

“I’d like to play for Brescia one day, but I don’t think it’ll be next season.”

The former Milan and Inter hitman was then asked about whether his race had prevented him from adding to his 36 Italy caps.

“I just don’t understand how discrimination isn’t being addressed,” he continued.

“If I was at a stadium with my son and someone insulted him for the colour of his skin or because he was gay, I couldn’t help pulling their ears.

“Having said that, I don’t train all week to leave the field if an idiot boos me. It’s easier to identify the idiot and send them away.

“If I’m not in the national team, it’s partly my fault too. When I was at Liverpool, to give one example, I didn’t play well and I wasn’t called up.

“Then there are other circumstances. I don’t know if it’s because of my strong character or something else.

“It’s convenient not to call me up or it has to do with racism. I repeat, it’s certainly not my fault that I’m not in the national team.”

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