Italy: Balotelli & Belotti miss out?

By Football Italia staff

Roberto Mancini is expected to once more overlook Mario Balotelli and Andrea Belotti in his latest Italy squad, which will be announced on Friday.

CalcioNews24 reports Mancini ‘can’t find space’ for the two strikers, despite Balotelli’s five goals in seven appearances for Olympique Marseille and Belotti’s run of three goals in his last two games as Torino captain.

Instead, the website expects Sampdoria veteran Fabio Quagliarella and Cagliari’s Leonardo Pavoletti to join regulars Federico Bernardeschi, Lorenzo Insigne, Ciro Immobile and Federico Chiesa in attack.

However, it notes Stephan El Sharaawy and Matteo Politano are ‘almost certain’ of call-ups, while Hoffenheim winger Vincenzo Grifo could return to the squad.

Such is the demise of Balotelli and Belotti in the CT’s plans that they could have fallen behind Juventus starlet Moise Kean in his pecking order.

Italy kick off their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign against Finland on March 23 in Udine, before hosting Liechtenstein in Parma three days later.

Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £9.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://www.premiersports.com/subscribenow