Antonio Conte assured Mario Balotelli can get back into the Italy squad if he’s “professional,” but is also “watching Graziano Pellè.”

Antonio Conte assured Mario Balotelli can get back into the Italy squad if he’s “professional,” but is also “watching Graziano Pellè.”

The Azzurri Coach spoke to the Corriere dello Sport and outlined some of his plans.

“I have no prejudice against Mario,” assured the tactician who left Liverpool striker Balotelli out of his debut game against Holland.

“I do not rule anyone out, but I do demand my players act like professionals. If you are not focused, if you wander about thinking only of yourself and basically graze on the pitch, then that’s not good enough for me.

“My choice not to call Balotelli and Cerci was natural in that sense. From here on we’ll see who will play, how they play and what attitudes are like on and off the field.

“With me it’s a constant revolving door policy, so you can come in and you can go out.”

Conte confessed he is keeping an eye on Southampton striker Pellè, who had already impressed at Feyenoord and now has four goals in five games for the Saints.

“On top of scoring 50 goals in 57 games in Holland, Pellè is now also scoring in England. We are watching him, as we are with others.

“I want a squad of 25-30 players based on meritocracy. I am not interested if your name is x or y, as I want 30 people who think ‘we are the Nazionale.’

“If a player is talented, you play him. At Arezzo I used Ranocchia when he was 18, while Pogba came from the Manchester United youth side and at Juve we immediately realised what a player he was.

“Then there is the reality of the market. Immobile went to Borussia Dortmund for €20m, money that the Italian clubs could not afford.

“Verratti was coming from Serie B and went to PSG for €12m. We know Verratti, but we already have De Rossi and Pirlo in that role. Daniele told me he’s available to play inside midfield, but there I see people like Marchisio, Giaccherini, Florenzi, Parolo, Poli, Montolivo or Aquilani.

“The main problem is that if you have quality and do not run, that’s not enough for me. You must also provide intensity. De Rossi, like others, has a positive rage within him.”

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