Balotelli wants kiss from the Queen

Balotelli wants kiss from the Queen

Mario Balotelli says he wants a ‘kiss on the cheek’
from the Queen of England if Italy beats Costa Rica
on today.
England need the Italians to beat Costa Rica if they
are to avoid an exit from the World Cup at the group
stage for the first time since 1958.
They would also need Italy to beat Uruguay and to
record a win over Costa Rica themselves in the final
round of Group D fixtures on Tuesday.
A draw would also send Roy Hodgson’s squad
home before the round of 16, but Balotelli is
typically confident his team will secure the victory
that takes them into the knockout stages, and wants
a unique reward should they do so.
“If we beat Costa Rica I want a kiss, obviously on
the cheek, from the UK Queen,” the former
Manchester City striker wrote on Twitter.
Balotelli scored the winning goal for Italy in their
opening win over England in Manaus and is
confident he can add to his international tally of 13
as the Azzurri mount their World Cup challenge.
“I’m feeling very calm at this moment and I don’t
feel under any pressure at all,” he said. “I would like
to go as far as possible in this World Cup.
“My personal aim is to score as many goals as
possible but the most important thing is that the
team plays well and advances.”
Balotelli scored 19 goals in 41 games for AC Milan
last season and has been linked with a move to
Arsenal, but he insists he is not going to talk about
his future until he has finished at the World Cup.
“About my future or the transfer market I know
nothing. We will see what will be after the World
Cup,” he said.
One thing that is for sure, is that Balotelli will start
up front for Italy against Costa Rica.
Ciro Immobile’s record of 22 goals in 33 Torino
appearances means he is putting pressure on
Balotelli but Italy manager Cesare Prandelli is
unlikely to look beyond the Milan man.
Prandelli said: “If I look at the past four years with
Mario, there were times when he was the weapon,
the player who could take us to the moon.
“It is important that he concentrates and that he
does what he did in the last game, not so much the
goal but the contribution he made.
“If he can do that for 90 minutes then great, if not
we have someone just as good and as fresh.”