Srinagar, January 25: After a gap of more than four years, temperamental striker Mario Balotelli is back in Italy squad.
Italy National team coach Robert Mancini on Monday named 35 member squad for the training camp.
Balotelli, who worked under Azzurri coach Mancini earlier in his career at Inter Milan and Manchester City, has not featured for the national team since September 2018.
Balotelli earned a recall in the squad for training camp on the back of strong performance, having scored eight goals in 18 league games to fire Adana Demirspor to fourth place in the Turkish Super Lig.
It will be one of Mancini’s final opportunities to get his players together before their FIFA World Cup play-off semi-final against North Macedonia on March 24. The winners of that match will face Portugal or Turkey for a place in Qatar.
Balotelli starred in Italy’s run to the Euro 2012 final, memorably scoring twice and ripping off his shirt in a 2-1 semi-final win over Germany.
Mario has a record of 14 goals in 36 games for his country, but has earned only three caps since the 2014 World Cup.