FIGC President Giancarlo Abete has jumped to the defence of AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli has come in for criticism recently after he was seen striking a camera crew in Naples.

"Balotelli is going through a challenging time," Abete told ANSA. "We have to be careful with him.

"But at the end of the day, you have to understand that the media pressure on the lad is excessive.

"He is in the eye of the storm."

 For breaking stories and all the great banter like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tribalfootball