Balotelli: 'I felt I deserved' Italy recall

Anyone privy to Mario Balotelli's return to form with Nice would likely say the 33-cap Italy international merited an Azzurri recall for more than just a growth in his off-pitch behaviour.

"I'm 27 now and I'm more mature, thanks to my children, and I've stopped hooking up with girls," Balotelli told La Gazzetta dello Sport, courtesy of ESPN FC.

The 27-year-old striker was left out of Luigi Di Biagio's Italy squad for a pair of recent friendlies against England and Argentina despite recording 22 goals in 31 appearances for Les Aiglons this season. In two campaigns on the Cote d'Azur, Balotelli has set personal bests with 15 league goals and seven on the continent in Europa League play, but still hasn't featured for Italy since the 2014 World Cup.

"I had been hoping (to be called up) because I felt I deserved it," Balotelli explained.

Instead, Di Biagio opted for debutant Patrick Cutrone and out-of-form Torino forward Andrea Belotti, and with the interim Azzurri boss' tenure hinging on a decision from Italian Football Federation (FIGC) sub-commissioner Alessandro Costacurta, Balotelli's Italy future is as uncertain.

So, too, is his spell in Ligue 1, and, with his contract set to expire in the summer, the high-profile striker is content with the ambiguity, saying: "Let's just say I'm somebody who lives on the borderline."