Home   >   News   >   Fabio Capello: “I do not know if Balotelli will ever mature”

Fabio Capello: “I do not know if Balotelli will ever mature”

By on October 4, 2013
Former England coach Fabio Capello is unsure whether Mario Balotelli will ever mature

Former England coach Fabio Capello is unsure whether Mario Balotelli will ever mature

Fabio Capello is unsure of whether AC Milan and Italy forward Mario Balotelli will ever mature from his wild antics, yet regards Italy as possible 2014 World Cup Champions.

Currently serving a four match ban for intimidating a referee during Milan’s clash with Juventus Capello stated his doubts that Balotelli will ever clam his controversial off-field behavior which made him famous at Manchester City.  Besides setting fireworks off in his own bathroom while at Manchester, the 23-year-old’s list of controversial incidents, which includes firing air guns in Milan’s Piazza della Repubblica, wearing an AC Milan jersey as an Internazionale player, and throwing darts at a City youth player, elongates, leading Sport Illustrated to label him “The World’s most Interesting Man.”  Yet Capello is not convinced that the superstar will mature with age.

“I do not know if Balotelli will ever mature. I hope so,”  Capello told Metronews.it.  Now how Capello knows this, we are not quite sure.

But the Russia coach did more on to more familiar topics for him during the interview, sizing up him main opponents at the World Cup next summer.

“Italy are an interesting team – they could be a wild card at World Cup 2014,” Capello said.

“Brazil will be playing at home and the fans proved to have been a great help during the Confederations Cup.”

“Argentina are getting stronger. Germany are still one of the best teams and, of course, you cannot forget Spain. But there’s always a surprise.”

Russia currently sit top of Uefa World Cup qualifying Group F, one point ahead of second place Portugal, and although wins in their final two matches against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan would send them through to next summer’s competition Capello remains sure that qualification in not straightforward at this point.

“I wouldn’t call matches against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan straightforward,” Capello added. “You have to have respect for your opponents.

“We’re very prepared. We have two chances of reaching the World Cup. It would be foolish to waste them.”

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.