Mancini: 'Zlatan on Messi and CR7 level'

By Football Italia staff

Roberto Mancini believes Zlatan Ibrahimovic “is on the same level as Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,” while Mario Balotelli can play for Italy again “if he thinks only about football.”

The Azzurri CT spoke to Sport Mediaset about the players he has worked with over the years and had remarkable praise for Milan striker Ibrahimovic.

“Zlatan will be remembered as one of the greatest forwards of all time. I put him on the same level as Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He won the league title wherever he went, scoring a ton of goals.

“He’s done well at Milan too this season, but I don’t know what his plans are for the future.”

Mancini had a very different experience with Balotelli, who even at Brescia is not delivering any degree of consistency. Nonetheless, the coach won’t rule out a future Italy call-up.

“If he thinks only about football and does what he has to do, then the doors are open to him, just as with many other players. Mario has the quality, it only depends on him.”

Former Inter President Massimo Moratti continues to push the idea of a bid for Messi at San Siro.

“I think that if Moratti was still the President of Inter, he would’ve certainly tried to sign Messi at this moment,” noted Mancio.

“After all, he brought Ronaldo to Inter, at the time one of the best strikers in the world.”

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