Italy boss Roberto Mancini includes Mario Balotelli in his 35-man squad for January's training camp, in preparation for their World Cup playoff with North Macedonia in March.

Italy boss Roberto Mancini has included Mario Balotelli in his 35-man squad for a training camp between January 26 and 28, in preparation for their 2022 World Cup playoff with North Macedonia in March.

The 31-year-old striker has rediscovered his form in front of goal with Turkish top-flight outfit Adana Demirspor this term, scoring nine goals and registering five assists in 21 appearances across all competitions.

Balotelli, who has previously worked with Mancini at Inter Milan and Manchester City, will join up with the Azzurri squad for the first time in three-and-a-half years.

The striker's last appearance for the national team came back in September 2018, when Italy played out a 1-1 draw with Poland in the Nations League.

Mancini has also included seven uncapped players – goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, defenders Luiz Felipe and Giorgio Scalvini, midfielders Davide Frattesi, Nicolo Fagioli and Samuele Ricci and striker Joao Pedro.

Notable absentees from the Italian squad include Gianluigi Donnarumma, Leonardo Bonucci, Jorginho, Marco Verratti and Federico Chiesa.

The Azzurri are scheduled for a team meeting at 12.00pm on January 26, before Mancini will hold a press conference at 13.15pm and then lead the first of three training sessions in Coverciano later in the afternoon.

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Italy's 35-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Cremonese), Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Genoa)

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina), Davide Calabria (AC Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Mattia De Sciglio (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Alessandro Florenzi (AC Milan), Luiz Felipe (Lazio), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Luca Pellegrini (Juventus), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Rafael Toloi (Atalanta)

Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Nicolo Fagioli (Cremonese), Davide Frattesi (Sassuolo), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Matteo Pessina (Atalanta), Samuele Ricci (Empoli), Stefano Sensi (Inter Milan), Sandro Tonali (AC Milan)

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Adana Demirspor), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Joao Pedro (Cagliari), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo), Gianluca Scamacca (Sassuolo), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio), Nicolo Zaniolo (Roma). body check tags ::

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