Pietro Anastasi has heaped criticism on Mario Balotelli, saying the striker is selfish and that Cesare Prandelli paid for showing faith in him.
Pietro Anastasi has heaped criticism on Mario Balotelli, saying the striker is selfish and that Cesare Prandelli paid for showing faith in him.
The former Italy international, in the wake of the Azzurri’s World Cup elimination yesterday, also said he would never have taken the Milan man to the tournament.
“The sending off of Claudio Marchisio shaped the match, but I think we deservedly went out because you can’t get the wrong result in two of the three matches,” Anastasi said to Tuttomercatoweb.com.
“Up front we were sterile, Balotelli and Immobile were ineffective. On Balotelli I have said the same a lot in the past – I don’t like him, he’s not part of the team or group.
“He always and only plays for himself. I wouldn’t have taken him [to the World Cup], but Prandelli gave him responsibility and he paid for it.”
Anastasi was then asked about Azzurri captain Gigi Buffon’s post match comments yesterday, when he himself appeared to indirectly criticise Balotelli.
“What Buffon said is what 90 per cent of Italians think. He has shown nothing at all, he is a good player but he will never be a champion.
“The only way people talk about him is for gossip, he will never walk the walk.”