SPORTSWORLD.AM
Former Manchester City and Italy striker Mario Balotelli has named the causes of the problems in Italian football.
"The problems are very simple. I prefer to give practical rather than technical explanations. When we were little, we played football for hours. I remember my mother scolding me because I stayed outside until it was too dark to see the ball."
"Today, when I walk through cities like Brescia, the football fields in the parks are empty. There is no one there. Computers, phones and PlayStations have ruined a lot. But most importantly, the attitude of parents has changed. Today, a seven-year-old can play football for two hours every three days. Talent is born in the streets and in the parks. We played a lot, we learned a lot and competed with older children... Today, children are glued to their phones. They think they are Ronaldinho because they watch his videos, and I thought I was Ronaldo because I can do the same moves in the yard. It's completely different," Balotelli was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
Balotelli has been playing for UAE club Al Ittifaq since January. He has previously played for Genoa, Monza, Brescia, Marseille, Nice, Liverpool, Manchester City, Milan and Inter.