Muntari: Balotelli needs time to decide on Ghana

Published on: 22 July 2010

Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari says Italy-born whizkid Mario Balotelli needs time to clarify his international future after rejecting several calls to switch allegiance.

The 19-year-old has stated his preference to play for the country of his birth but was snubbed by out-gone head coach Marcelo Lippi for the 2010 World Cup finals.

Balotelli, born to Ghanaian immigrants in Palermo, turned down a request to play for the West African country at the World Cup.

In August 2007, the rejected a call from then Ghana coach Claude Le Roy to play for the Black Stars in an international friendly against Senegal in London.

Muntari has revealed his Inter Milan team mate made inquiries about the possibilities of playing for Ghana.

"He found out from me about playing for Ghana and also to Stephen Appiah wanting to know how it's going to be when he gets here but I told him Ghanaians are good and we are there to make him feels at home. Mario is a kid and he changes his mind at anytime so let's give him time to see maybe he will return to play for Ghana," Muntari told Joy FM.

Balotelli played a key role in Italy's semi-final feat at the 2009 European Under-21 Championships in Greece.

He has suffered several racial slurs in recent times and has been told by some fans there is no black Italian.

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