Italy coach Marcello Lippi insists he has no concerns with the temperament of Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli.

Lippi is toying with the idea of including the 19-year-old in his squad for this summer's World Cup in South Africa.

He said: "Balotelli is really a very, very nice lad.

"I am ever more convinced of how important it is for him to play in an international club alongside world-class players.

"From them he will get to understand and learn the spirit of sacrifice and many other things."

Lippi then turned on the media for demanding that he pick this or that player.

"The media are like political parties. They have their list of candidates and there isn't any danger of them presenting their favourites late because of a stamp here or a missing signature there."