Roberto Mancini opened the Azzurri minicamp with a presser, weighing in on the call-ups: “I have to thank the clubs that allowed their players to be here. We have to evaluate several situations, and Mario Balotelli is among them.”
The Italy coach was asked about Lorenzo Insigne moving to Toronto FC: “He will still be in Serie A for the March games, so there is no problem there, and also for June. Then there will be a window in September and eventually the World Cup. It is too early to tell.”
“Stefano Sensi is an important player and possesses great qualities. He has always fared well when he has been selected. These three days will help him too. The doors of the national team are always open for anybody that can help.”
Mancini replied to whether Balotelli’s Azzurri return is a Hail Mary: “If it is the same mood as before the Euro, then it is okay. Maybe we give our best when we are desperate, but I do not think this is the case. He has always been skilled, and I need to check on how he is feeling physically. We had not seen him up close in a while. He also needs to fit in the group. I did not promise him anything.”
“I think Nicolò Zaniolo is an offensive-minded box-to-box. He can play in the attack if need be, but it does not depend only on him. That is his ideal role in my mind. We have to find the right solution. Players use different schemes at their clubs, so there are some adjustments.”
Mancini indicated who may lead the struggling Azzurri attack in March: “We always believed in Gianluca Scamacca. He is finding great consistency now, and he could be our no.9 in the play-offs.”