Italy’s continued exclusion of Mario Balotelli is scandalous

 

 

 

 

The in-form Nice striker is perhaps better than ever, and the time has come for his return to national team set-up

When Mario Balotelli departed Liverpool for Nice, his reputation was so low that the Reds literally gave him away. He had become a comic book character of fun, someone to be laughed at, even mocked.
But 'Super Mario' is back — perhaps better than ever.
His road to redemption has been a lengthy one, yet it speaks volumes of the progress that the 27-year-old has made that there was widespread — and justifiable — shock as he was omitted from interim coach Luigi Di Biagio’s Italy squad.