Italy boss Antonio Conte has insisted that Mario Balotelli has to play regularly for Liverpool before he can think about recalling the striker to the national team set-up.
The Liverpool forward has 33 international caps to his name for the Azzurri, but has yet to play for his country under the tutelage of Conte, who took the reins of the Italian national team following their disastrous World Cup campaign last summer.
The former Juventus boss has so far ignored the former Inter Milan striker in his starting eleven and stressed that Balotelli will only find a place in the Italian national team if he plays regularly at Liverpool.
“I hope Mario can make a significant contribution to Liverpool and plays more”, Conte was quoted as saying by Tutto Mercato.
“If this happens, then the doors are open for him.”
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However, Balotelli has found himself in the fringes of the Liverpool squad over the last few months and last started a Premier League game for the Reds in November against Chelsea.
Since then he has made only five substitute appearances for Brendan Rodgers’ men in the league and has scored only four goals in all competitions since joining the club in the summer.
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