"I could play for Ghana"-Balotelli

[Mr. Piffington]

not taking anything from Balotelli

he is a good player

but i not truly sure he wants to play for Ghana

as others have mentioned he more Italian than Ghanaian
given his story


Ghana like other African nations have great players in their local, youth team (AYC 2009 Champs) & Chan side (2009 runners Up)

Ransford Osei is a name that stands out

The young man

has been doing his thing big time from U17 & U20 for Ghana

Thank you.

Don't you see how some Nigerians are about John Michael Obi or Obafemi Martins, who are nonchalant when it comes to playing for Nigeria. Just because they play in the premier league of England they can do no wrong (yeah, I know, they are not foreign born, just noting the similiarity in behavior)

my broda, i weak o!

[jette1]

The guy is honest and realistic. He has two options - Ghana/Italy and saying he would pick Ghana if Italy continues to shun him is properly put. I see nothing wrong with that. Ghana is his opt.
Lets be honest, he was born in Italy and would naturally prefer Italy over Ghana and for him to even have Ghana as 2nd option should be degrading to Ghanaian after all is not as if Ghana would appear better than Italy in all facets for somebody born in Italy and raised by Italian Parents.

[Igbanibo]

The bobo needs to make a decision and stick with it. He cant be flip flopping!!!

[stargazer]

The bobo needs to make a decision and stick with it. He cant be flip flopping!!!

aint that what teenagers do

[d2dbo]

much ado about nothing.......

[Ghost]

He may seem undiplomatic but he is actually playing his cards well. The WC is next year and he wants a chance to earn a jersey. This starts with a call up. So far, Italy has shown little intersest in calling him. He knows absolutely that Ghana will play him so he can afford to antagonize Lippi because he has a fall back.

I really hope he plays for Ghana. His bitterness might be tamed by exposure to his heritage.

[CMS]

Guys since when does a teenage boy make sensible decisions? He's a young man and does not know what it means to be a Ghanaian.. He was not raised by Ghanaian parents and will definitely not know a thing about being patriotic for Ghana. It will be better fo us to view his situation rationally, than react to his emotionally.

Why do Africans get giddy about foreign born players? For goodness sake the boy doesn't want to play for Ghana so leave him be.

Balotelli is not just 'any foreign born player' and Ghana does not actually have quality strikers rotting away on the bench.

Last time I checked he was born in Italy and was raised by Italians, heck he even has an Italian name. The world is changing, roots and heritage nowadays is determined by where people were born and raised for the the most part, parental descent is a distant second. The boy feels Italian and if he has the right to want to play there I just think Ghanaians/Africans need to leave him alone but if he eventually wants to play for Ghana then ok.

he was born in Italy but he is biologically from Ghana. If the player later changes his mind be it due to pressure, his selfish needs or a miraculous awareness of his African heritage, who are we to criticize Ghana for trying to improve their team?

[General Trousers]

It should be noted that Lippi is already capping 18 year old Davide Santon who is Balotelli's teammate. I know that Muntari must be quietly working the Balotelli angle.

I saw them all today at the UCLA practice (I posted the schedule). The practice was open, most of the players made yanga except Muntari, Cambiaso and Santon.

@

[jette1]

The guy is honest and realistic. He has two options - Ghana/Italy and saying he would pick Ghana if Italy continues to shun him is properly put. I see nothing wrong with that. Ghana is his option 2, that's what you guys seem to have problem with.
Lets be honest, he was born in Italy and would naturally prefer Italy over Ghana and for him to even have Ghana as 2nd option shouldn't be taken as degrading to Ghanaians after all it is not as if Ghana would come across to him as better than Italy in all facets for somebody born in Italy and raised by Italian Parents and never been to Ghana; just look at it from his perspective rather than from yours.
As far as him using Ghana to induce the Italian manager to call him up; again there's nothing wrong with that either; he should have been called up for Confederation cup but he knows there's a racial politics going on so he was right to let them know that he knows what they know.

[charlie]

Fvking Ashewo!
I hope Lippi drops him, ang Ghana tells him 2 get lost. U cant have ur cake & eat it!

[dcf1]

If Balotelli really does end up playing for Ghana then you have a world-class finisher in front of the world's best midfield -and potential 2010 World Cup winners.

[toyin133]

Don't you see how some Nigerians are about John Michael Obi or Obafemi Martins, who are nonchalant when it comes to playing for Nigeria. Just because they play in the premier league of England they can do no wrong (yeah, I know, they are not foreign born, just noting the similiarity in behavior)

Martins and Obi are two of the most yabbed Nigerian Internationals on this site so I really don't know what your point is.
As for Balotelli/Barwuah, I doubt that he will actually make the commitment to Ghana.

[jeff]

He may seem undiplomatic but he is actually playing his cards well. The WC is next year and he wants a chance to earn a jersey. This starts with a call up. So far, Italy has shown little intersest in calling him. He knows absolutely that Ghana will play him so he can afford to antagonize Lippi because he has a fall back.

I really hope he plays for Ghana. His bitterness might be tamed by exposure to his heritage.

you're right. The boy has some bitterness in him, He plays like he is angry

[felarey]

It's obvious the boy doesn't want to play for Ghana. No team needs a player whose heart is not totally in it. It's either he wants to play for Ghana or does not. From the article, the boy has only mentioned Ghana out of desperation to play for Italy. The boy is Italian, let him be.