Italy coach Giampiero Ventura
said Monday that he did not consider Graziano Pelle to be
permanently out of the national team.
The Shandong Luneng striker was dropped for this month's
3-2 win in Macedonia in a World Cup qualifier after he had
stalked off the pitch and refused Ventura's attempted handshake
when being substituted three days previously in a 1-1 draw with
Spain.
Pelle's apology for the gesture failed to stop him being
sent from the Azzurri camp, but Ventura said Monday that the
damage is not permanent.
"Much worse has been seen in soccer," Ventura told RAI
radio.
"He's a good player and a good lad, but obviously he must
reflect.
"His behaviour cannot give the message that anyone can do
what they want with the national team.
"I'm the first one not to stick rigidly to a principle.
The door to the national team is open to everyone".
Ventura said it was a similar story with Mario Balotelli,
who is in fine with with new club Nice after years of under
performing and high-profile discipline problems.
"He's a player with great potential and quality, who is
held back by a way of being that doesn't not enable him to
express himself in the best way," Ventura said when asked about
the 26-year-old.
"I repeat, the door is open to everyone. But the
conditions have to be right".
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