Balotelli back in Italy squad after 3-year absence

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Mario Balotelli is again within the Italy squad greater than three years after his final look in an Azzurri shirt.

Italy coach Roberto Mancini included the striker in a 35-man squad introduced Monday for a three-day coaching camp this week, forward of the World Cup playoffs in March.

The 31-year-old Balotelli made the final of his 36 worldwide appearances in a 1-1 draw towards Poland within the Nations League in September 2018.

Balotelli is enjoying for Turkish facet Adana Demirspor, the place he has scored eight objectives in 19 league appearances.

Mancini is aware of Balotelli effectively, having labored with him at Inter Milan and Manchester Metropolis, and Italy has lacked a constant goalscorer, with Ciro Motionless and Andrea Belotti struggling to duplicate their membership kind on the worldwide stage.

The coaching camp will happen between Wednesday and Friday. Seven gamers obtained their first worldwide call-ups: goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, defenders Luiz Felipe and Giorgio Scalvini, midfielders Nicolò Fagioli, Davide Frattesi and Samuele Ricci and ahead João Pedro.

European champion Italy hosts North Macedonia within the World Cup qualifying playoffs on March 24. The winner advances to play at Portugal or Turkey 5 days later.

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Squad:

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Cremonese), Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Genoa).

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina), Davide Calabria (AC Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Mattia De Sciglio (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Alessandro Florenzi (AC Milan), Luiz Felipe (Lazio), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Luca Pellegrini (Juventus), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Rafael Tolói (Atalanta).

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Nicolò Fagioli (Cremonese), Davide Frattesi (Sassuolo), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Matteo Pessina (Atalanta), Samuele Ricci (Empoli), Stefano Sensi (Inter Milan), Sandro Tonali (AC Milan).

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Adana Demirspor), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Ciro Motionless (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), João Pedro (Cagliari), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo), Gianluca Scamacca (Sassuolo), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio), Nicolò Zaniolo (Roma).