Antonio Conte has explained Graziano Pelle’s inclusion and Mario Balotelli’s exclusion from his latest Italy squad.
The Southampton man and Empoli defender Daniele Rugani are the notable new additions to the Azzurri squad for this month’s Euro 2016 qualifiers with Azerbaijan and Malta.
“Graziano represents what I have always said. The meritocracy brings to the national team a player who has scored 50 goals in two years,” Conte has explained to reporters today.
Antonio Conte has explained Graziano Pelle’s inclusion and Mario Balotelli’s exclusion from his latest Italy squad.
The Southampton man and Empoli defender Daniele Rugani are the notable new additions to the Azzurri squad for this month’s Euro 2016 qualifiers with Azerbaijan and Malta.
“Graziano represents what I have always said. The meritocracy brings to the national team a player who has scored 50 goals in two years,” Conte has explained to reporters today.
“Today he is in the Premier League, a more competitive League than his spell in the Netherlands and even in England he is proving to be a protagonist.
“I am curious to see him up close to see if he can do the job. He deserved his call-up from these points of view.
“We observe them and give them a chance. Those who arrive at Coverciano must have the footballing quality and more to stay.
“And Daniele Rugani? He has grown exponentially compared to when I coached him at Juventus. Again, this is a sign to the Under-21 players.”
Pelle can be seen to have taken the position of Mario Balotelli in the squad.
“Mario has started a new course, it is not easy, and I think that he must have the right time to integrate at Liverpool.
“We are following him as we are all the Italians who are abroad. I make call-ups rather than exclusions, those are very different things.”
Simone Zaza is back in the squad again despite a dip in form with Sassuolo.
“Nothing has changed for Simone. As soon as a player arrives in the national team it tends to enhance them. He now goes through extreme positives and negatives.
“If we believe that he should solve the issues of Sassuolo then we are on the wrong track.
“What I ask of him he is doing well and he provides his contribution to the national team.”