Former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli insists he didn't fall out with Mario Balotelli during the World Cup.
The AC Milan striker has been blamed for Italy's woeful campaign, amid reports of a halftime row with Prandelli during their defeat to Uruguay.
"Mario is a basically good guy. He's not a bad guy. But he lives in a dimension that is far from reality. But it does not mean anything.
"As a 24 year old, he has the opportunity to build on this great experience."
Prandelli also hit back at criticism of Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon.
"If you're going to criticise Buffon after 142 caps for his country, I just do not understand that..."
And the new Galatasaray coach also was asked about what is needed to improve Italian football.
He told Corriere della Sera: "Germany, when they had trouble, they wondered: what is our most important team? They did not respond Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund. Instead, they answered 'Germany' and everyone started to serve the country.
"It's our football that needs to be reviewed."
