Inter Milan striker Balotelli gets Italian citizenship
Submitted by Anna Tomova on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 12:14.
Inter Milan footballer Mario Balotelli, one of the most promising strikers in the Italian Serie A, has become an Italian citizen and could soon don the Azzurri jersey, gazzetta. it reported Wednesday.
The 18-year-old player was born in the southern city of Palermo to Ghanaian parents and was adopted by an Italian family when he was three.
He grew up with the Balotelli's in a small town east of Milan, beginning to play with the youth team of lower-division Lumezzane in 2001.
Italian champions Inter bought him in 2007 and gave him his debut last season, during which he scored three goals in 11 games.
His debut with Italy9s youth team is expected on September 5, when the Azzurri tackle Greece in a qualification game for the European championship.
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