Italy U21 coach Pierluigi Casiraghi admits Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli "grates" on people.

Balotelli has been the subject of numerous insulting chants, above all from Juventus fans, and the club was fined for them this week.

"It is not an issue of racism, it's just his personality that grates on people," insisted the Coach.

"He is often a target, in good and bad, because he is a player with a big personality. At times he does go over the top, but he is improving.

"Mario needs the patience to whittle down a few problems with his character. He is a lot better than he was, even if he still picks up a few too many yellow cards."