Mario Balotelli and Roberto Mancini can revitalise new-look Azzurri

In 1970 Italian singer Jimmy Fontana had a hit with a song titled ‘L’amore non e’ bello (se non e’ litigarello). The theme of that track loosely translates as ‘the best love affairs are always a bit fiery’. And it describes the relationship between Italy boss Roberto Mancini and centre-forward Mario Balotelli wonderfully.

Balo, as he is also known, is back in the Azzurri squad after being axed in the aftermath of the disastrous 2014 World Cup. When the unpredictable striker scored the winning goal in the group game against England in Manaus, it should have been the start of a glorious month in Brazil.

But defeats to Costa Rica and Uruguay, and stories of clashes between Balo and senior members of the squad soured the tournament. Balotelli was banished from the national team, overlooked by head coaches Antonio Conte for Euro 2016 and Giampiero Ventura during woeful World Cup 2018 qualifying.

During his absence the forward knuckled down in club football in France with Nice, and scored a highly-commendable 26 goals in all competitions last season. The penny appeared to have dropped for the problem child. Yet his return to the Azzurri seemed impossible, regardless of his excellent work in France. Then, other circumstances fell in his favour, and Balo is back.

Mancini was appointed Italy coach in May this year. It represented a clean slate for everyone, and ‘Mancio’, as Italians call him, wasted no time summoning Balotelli.

‘I hadn’t seen Mario for four years until yesterday. I think he is more mature. He’s got two children, that will have helped him. Mario’s an unusual player, even at a very young age he was very good, but he perhaps couldn’t maintain his great start,’ said Mancini at Italy’s training camp last spring.

The former Inter, Milan and Liverpool man played against Saudi Arabia in May 2018, and scored after 11 minutes. He also appeared in the friendly defeat to France a few days later. His return passed without incident, his re-integration was complete. It was a victory for Mancini.

The ex-Manchester City coach has always had a soft spot for Balotelli. Mancini promoted the attacker to the Inter Milan first team squad and then gave him a Serie A debut in December 2007 at the age of 17. The pair then reunited at City and won the FA Cup and Premier League.

But there were misunderstandings as well as medals. The Italians famously clashed in training after the striker allegedly went in hard on Gael Clichy, who was returning from an injury. Mancini had warned his players to go easily on the fragile Frenchman. Cue a comically mismatched spot of argy-bargy between the boss and the centre-forward.

There were other flashpoints, usually when Balo reacted badly to being substituted. One incident occurred in a friendly in the USA in July 2011. After half an hour of the match against LA Galaxy the centre-forward broke into the area and tried to score with an improbable, flamboyant backheel. A disgusted Mancini immediately took Balotelli off.

Mancio often felt his protege was not displaying the attributes of a team player, Balotelli was regularly incensed at what he considered humiliating substitutions. Many observers in Italy and the UK asked why the City chief persisted with his wild child. The truth is that Mancini adores the Palermo-born ace, and always will.

Speaking about the first time he saw the striker, Mancini said: ‘Anyone would have seen his quality, he had ice in his veins. It was stunning, I was sure he was going to become world class.’

There are other explanations for the bond between the two.

As a player Mancini was more of a No 10 than Balotelli. But he too was volatile and a handful on the pitch. He was a perfectionist, and always more than willing to help referees do their job. Mancini wasn’t easy to play with or manage, but his heart was in the right place.

The Italy coach still believes Balotelli can be a world star if his mentality is correct. Mancini never hit the heights in his international career. He should have lit up the second half of the 1980s, but wasn’t able to reproduce his magnificent Sampdoria form in the Italy shirt.

The 1990 World Cup should also have been a chance for Mancini to shine. Everyone expected and hoped Gianluca Vialli and Mancio would recreate their devastating Samp partnership at the world’s greatest football show.

But the emergence of Roberto Baggio and Salvatore Schillaci at Italia ’90 marginalised Mancini. His international career never recovered, and his time with the Azzurri felt unfulfilled. Perhaps that is another reason he wants to give Balotelli another chance.

He doesn’t want to see another talent to go to waste. And while Torino striker Andrea Belotti is still finding his form after a serious injury, the Azzurri aren’t spoiled for choice up front. There are logical and romantic reasons for Balotelli leading the line again.

Despite the impulsiveness and occasional chaos surrounding Balotelli, his return to the Azzurri makes sense. Both the coach and the prodigal son have calmed down in recent years, but it could still be a bumpy ride with a few quarrels. If the odd couple can bring success for the new Italy, no one will complain.