Mario Balotelli has launched a blistering attack on the Italian national team setup, claiming the current Azzurri side "doesn't deserve" him after his surprising exclusion from their Euro 2024 squad.
The controversial striker, now playing for Turkish side Demirspor, didn't hold back in his assessment of manager Luciano Spalletti's selection decisions during a fiery interview with TVPlay.
'They Called Me a Has-Been'
Balotelli revealed the personal sting of criticism from Italian pundits, stating: "They said I was finished, that I was a has-been." The 33-year-old responded with characteristic defiance, insisting his current form proves his detractors wrong.
"This year I scored 18 goals," Balotelli declared. "How many Italian strikers scored more than me? Maybe one, if any."
Scathing Assessment of Azzurri Quality
The former Manchester City and Liverpool forward delivered a brutal verdict on the current state of Italian attacking options, suggesting the national team's decline in quality made his exclusion particularly galling.
"The truth is, apart from a few players, this national team doesn't have champions like in my time," Balotelli claimed, referencing Italy's golden generation that reached Euro 2012 final.
Balotelli's Bold Declaration
In perhaps his most provocative statement, the striker turned the selection narrative on its head, suggesting the real issue wasn't his worthiness for the team, but the team's worthiness of him.
"Let's be clear: this national team doesn't deserve Balotelli at the moment," he stated unequivocally, leaving no doubt about his feelings toward the snub.
The explosive comments are likely to ignite fresh debate about Balotelli's international future and the current direction of Italian football as they prepare to defend their European championship title in Germany.
