Mario Balotelli returned to the Italian national team after a four-year break and scored a goal in his first friendly match. The "Nice" forward helped Italy beat Saudi Arabia 2-1.
The new Italian national team coach Roberto Mancini appointed Balotelli as the team's vice captain, with the support of Gianluigi Buffon and Daniele De Rossi who left the national team. However, it seems that not everyone was happy with this decision, as a banner appeared in the stands dedicated to M. Balotelli.
"My captain must have Italian blood," the banner read.
Both of the player's parents are from Ghana, although Balotelli himself was born in Palermo, Italy.
"People, we live in 2018. Wake up. Please, stop this," Balotelli wrote on his Twitter account.
Earlier, the forward admitted that he dedicated his goal tragically to his former teammate Davide Astori, who passed away.
"I know it's already late and you're already there... But I'm sure you're there watching the match with my dad. The goal I scored, even if it doesn't mean anything to you and doesn't have much significance, is dedicated to you," the Italian said.
