Balotelli to make Italy debut: Prandelli

New Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said on Monday he will likely start Manchester City target Mario Balotelli in Tuesday’s friendly in London against Ivory Coast.

Prandelli will be taking charge of his first match with the national team having replaced Marcello Lippi following the 2006 world champions’ disastrous defence of their title in South Africa.

Balotelli, who will turn 20 two days after the match, is a controversial figure in Italian football.

Born to Ghanaian immigrent parents but brought up in an Italian foster family, Balotelli is regarded by many as Italy’s brightest young talent.

But despite breaking into the Inter Milan team at just 17, he struggled to command a regular place under Jose Mourinho over the last two years.

He has suffered racial abuse from the stands while his temperament has been regularly brought into question with Inter willing to let him leave and join former boss Roberto Mancini at Manchester City.

But while Lippi never called him up, Prandelli has announced his intention to spark a new attacking, young generation in the Italy shirt and said the troubled teenager will probably start.

“Nine of the 11 places are already decided. I have two doubts, the goalkeeper and the left winger,” said Prandelli.

“Although I believe I’ll start Mario in this position.

“The idea of starting Balotelli is born from the desire to immediately exploit all the attacking potential at my disposal, which is huge.

“I want him to give me everything, then when he’s run out of gas, I’ll substitute him.

“However, I’ll only be sure tomorrow morning (of who he picks).”

Prandelli’s choices, and indeed his feeling regarding the players at his disposal, is in stark contrast to that of predecessor Lippi.

Lippi often complained of having few attacking options and no superstars in his squad.

But he left Balotelli, Antonio Cassano and Brazilian-born Amauri behind, and all three are expected to start for Prandelli.

The former Fiorentina boss is believed to be favouring a 4-2-3-1 formation with Amauri as the lone forward and Cassano behind him, flanked by Simone Pepe on the right and either Balotelli or Napoli’s Fabio Quagliarella on the left.

AS Roma’s Daniele De Rossi should line up alongside Sampdoria’s Angelo Palombo as two defensive midfielders.

The centre-backs are likely to be Juventus pair Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci with team-mate Marco Motta at right-back and former Juve left-back Christian Molinaro completing the back four.

The goalkeeper position is to be decided between uncapped pair, Palermo’s Salvatore Sirigu and Bologna’s Emiliano Viviano.

If that is indeed the team and Balotelli starts, it would mean five players making their international debuts and Prandelli is banking on his young players playing without fear.

“I want generosity, order and tactical balance. Otherwise I want the desire to have a go without fear of making a mistake,” said Prandelli.

“The result is important but it’s still just a friendly, although we want to get off to a good start.

“Ivory Coast are a fiery team, strong and organised. It will be a good test.”