Despite strong league form with OGC Nice, Mario Balotelli has not been selected in Italy’s latest squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Macedonia.
Since trading Liverpool for southern France on deadline day, Balotelli has netted four times for Les Aiglons in all competitions, but that has not proved enough for a recall under Gian Piero Ventura.
In Nice’s most recent match against Krasnodar in the Europa League, Balotelli was forced off the field at half time with illness as Nice went down 5-2.
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Just four changes have been made to the squad that saw the Azzurri beat Israel 3-1 in their opening game on the road to Russia in Haifa.
Ventura has recalled Mattia Perin, Domenico Criscito, Matteo Darmian and Nicola Sansone.
Goalkeeper Federico Marchetti drops out of the squad with injury, while Girogio Chiellini will miss the Spain clash through suspension.
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