Wednesday, 22nd October, 2014



Italy international striker Simone Zaza is hopeful that Mario Balotelli will win a recall to the national team.

Balotelli, who joined Liverpool from AC Milan this summer, has been omitted from both new Italy coach Antonio Conte's first two international squads.




Conte is yet to be convinced that Balotelli can be a team player and as a result has gone with other attacking options, such as Sassuolo striker Zaza.

 


But Zaza, rather than seeing Balotelli as competition, would be happy to work with the Liverpool hitman at international level.

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"With Italy there is always room for strong players and Mario is one of those", Zaza told Gazzetta di Parma.

"I still have not had the pleasure of meeting him. I hope to bump into him soon.

"As for me, my goal is to stay in the national team and to play."

Zaza has scored once for Italy in three appearances so far, striking in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Norway last month.

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