The controversial forward Mario Balotelli, who has found himself in the last two seasons at French club Nice, has been called up by the new Italian head coach Roberto Mancini, after not playing for the national team since the 2014 Brazil World Cup.
Balotelli is part of the group called up by Mancini for the friendly matches against Saudi Arabia, France and the Netherlands in the coming weeks.
These matches will be Mancini's first in charge of the Italian national team, which did not qualify for the 2018 Russia World Cup for the first time since 1958.
Mancini has already coached Balotelli at Inter Milan and Manchester City.
Balotelli hasn't played for the Azzurri since Brazil 2014. His last call-up was in November of that year, but he didn't play any matches due to injury. (D)