Mario Balotelli has targeted a return to England for Euro 2020 after signing for his hometown club Brescia.
The former Manchester City and Liverpool said he is back in Serie A to establish his place in Roberto Mancini's Italy squad. He was recalled after four years without national service last year.
And Balotelli, who turned down a move to Flamengo in Brazil to sign a three-year contract, said: “I am absolutely targeting a place in the Italy squad for Euro 2020.
“I spoke to Roberto Mancini when he wished me a happy birthday. Brescia is my town, so it can give me much more than other places, just as I hope to give Brescia far more than I could anywhere else.”
Euro 2020 will be staged in 12 different countries next summer with the semis and final at Wembley.
The Italian was born in Palermo to Ghanaian parents and was fostered by Silvia and Francesco Balotelli in Brescia from the age of three. Francesco died recently but the 29-year-old said: “My mum cried when I told her I had the possibility of coming to Brescia! I asked what she thought and she was just crying. She’s very happy.
“My father was from Brescia, he supported the team and it was his dream to see me play with this jersey, so I think he’d be happy too.”
Former Milan and Inter striker Balotelli has been the victim of racist abuse in Italy but he said: “I hope with all my heart that we do not see a repeat of incidents that happened many, many years ago when I was last in Italy. I can’t start thinking about that, though.”
Balotelli has won 36 caps for Italy, scoring 14 times, and bagged the winner against England in the group stages of World Cup 2014.
