Prandelli: Balotelli 'does not have the objective' to be world's best
Fresh off matching a career-best 14 league goals during Sunday's victory over Paris Saint-Germain, Nice striker Mario Balotelli is again displaying qualities that had the Italian's name mentioned among the game's best forwards.
And like former tutor Roberto Mancini did in October, ex-Italy boss Cesare Prandelli has proclaimed Balotelli's virtues, saying he could be world's best, though only on one condition.
Related - Mancini: Balotelli's 'an extraordinary boy' - and 'an idiot'
"If Balotelli made a priority of his professional life, then he has no rivals," Prandelli told Radio Sportiva, courtesy of ESPN FC.
"He's got incredible potential, but probably he just does not have the objective of becoming the best in the world."
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Few would know better than Prandelli.
While in charge of the Azzurri during Euro 2012, Balotelli was arguably at the peak of his powers, bagging a brace when Italy topped Germany at the semi-final stage. That display on the international scene was followed by a loan from Manchester City to AC Milan and a mercurial stretch at Liverpool.
The 26-year-old's move to the Cote d'Azur in August 2016 marked an opportunity for Balotelli to regain the form that saw him score 14 times with Milan in 2013-14, and the Italian has matched that in 18 starts for Lucien Favre's third-place side.
In the news again for his exploits on the pitch and not the questionable decisions off of it that marred his professional career's infantile stages, Prandelli asserts that Balotelli can still match his once-lofty ambitions.
"I still think he can do extraordinary things," Prandelli admitted. "Time is still on his side."