Prandelli says it's time for Balotelli to behave

09 March 2012 13:13

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has hit out at temperamental striker Mario Balotelli, telling him it's time to put his money where his mouth is.

The Manchester City starlet was fined one week's wages this week following his latest indiscretion in which he was photographed outside a strip club two nights before a game, breaking club rules.

He was also dropped for the last Italy match, a 1-0 friendly defeat at home to the United States, for disciplinary measures as he was serving a club suspension for having kicked Tottenham's Scott Parker in the head.

The 21-year gave a recent interview on the BBC in which he said he agrees that he needs to mature but that he is still young.

But Prandelli says words are not enough.

"I know he wants to be an integral part of this group but now he has to move on from saying to doing," he said.

"We need to grow together, he doesn't have to resolve his problems on his own but he just needs to ask for help."

Prandelli's choice to drop the talented Balotelli for the US game was even more damaging given that first choice strike pair Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi are both injured.

And Prandelli acknowledges that without his top players Italy will struggle at June's European Championships.

"With 90 days to go before the Euros we need to get some players back because the last few matches have shown that we have problems without those important players," he added.

Source: AFP