Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is in the headlines again for the wrong reasons, as he was spotted with an iPad on Italy’s bench in their Euro 2012 qualifier against Faroe Islands.
The former Inter Milan frontman has had an up and down career, with controversies away from the game blighting his ability to perform on the pitch.
Reports indicate that national manager Cesare Prandelli was not impressed with the 21-year-old’s preparations for the game, and his clear lack of respect for the Azzurri’s opponent.
Despite this, team manager Gigi Riva has stated that there is not a rift between player and coach.
“Balotelli’s situation is nothing to worry about. These are small things that happen in every team. He only played a few minutes against the Faroe Islands so he couldn’t do much,” Riva is reported to have said in The Daily Mail.
“But in training Mario gives his best. Prandelli did not watch Balotelli’s warm-up because he was watching the game. Let’s not create a problem where there is none,” he concluded.
Italy can assure qualification to next year’s tournament in Ukraine and Poland as they take on Slovenia in Florence on Tuesday night, with Balotelli again expected to start from the sidelines.
