Mario Balotelli has taken a minor swipe at former Italy manager Cesare Prandelli.
The former Azzurri boss made some negative comments towards the Liverpool striker in a recent interview with talkSPORT which Balotelli took offence to.
The former Inter Milan, Manchester City and AC Milan attacker has been left out of new boss Antonio Conte's recent Italian sides - which he understands - but was unhappy with the treatment from Prandelli who he believes should approach him face-to-face.
"I understand why I am not in the squad," Balotelli said. "I haven't been scoring, but other players like [Graziano] Pelle and the other strikers have been.
"So they deserve to be there, but I love Italy and nobody can ever say anything about my national team.
"I will always love it, but I have to be honest and say I was disappointed at what people were saying and how they were blaming me after the World Cup.
"I think I had two, maybe three chances in all the tournament. Everyone knows I scored against England, but I couldn't do much else.
"Even Cesare Prandelli (Italy's World Cup coach) has said bad stuff about me.
"Should he be going and talking to the newspapers about me straight after a game? I did not expect that and I did not reply, because there is no point.
"I think real men, if they have something to say, then they come to you and say it to your face. I am a face-to-face person, a straight person."
