Former Italy international Mario Balotelli has voiced a significant concern regarding the current state of the Italian national football team, highlighting a perceived lack of passion among its players. Speaking at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, where he shared the stage with football luminaries such as Luciano Spalletti, Roberto Mancini, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Zinedine Zidane, Balotelli made his feelings clear.
The 35-year-old striker, who most recently played for Genoa in the 2024-25 season, observed that the current squad appears to lack the profound `desire` to represent the Azzurri jersey that was a hallmark of previous generations.
Balotelli`s Critique: A Call for Pride
“For me, the national team is a crucial subject,” Balotelli stated. “This isn`t meant as a criticism of any individual, but too often, I observe players representing the national team without that essential drive to defend our nation`s colours, and that truly displeases me.”
He further emphasized his own experience: “When I played for the national team, I felt immense pride in wearing the Italy shirt, and I believe this sentiment is currently absent.”
When asked if he considers himself the last `authentic` centre-forward to play for Italy, Balotelli responded with a candid, “That`s what I`m often told.”
Optimism for Future Talents and World Cup Qualification
Despite his critique, Balotelli sees potential in Italy`s future attacking prospects, naming young talents Francesco Pio Esposito and Francesco Camarda. Of Esposito, he remarked, “He`s exceptionally strong; his goal against Estonia was fantastic.” Regarding Camarda, he added, “These are talented players with evident quality, but they need time to develop.”
Balotelli remains optimistic about Italy`s chances for the upcoming global tournament, confidently asserting, “Of course, we`ll qualify for the 2026 World Cup; I`m absolutely convinced of it.”
