SIX goals in six French league matches were not enough to convince Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura to restore Mario Balotelli to the national team.

    The often-divisive striker also needs to convince Ventura that he has cleaned up his act — both on and off the pitch.

    “It’s not due to technical reasons that Balotelli isn’t on the national team,” Ventura said. “He has great skills. Nobody is debating his technical abilities. Rather it’s a thousand other factors.”

    Since transferring on a free transfer from Liverpool to Nice on deadline day, Balotelli has helped the unheralded club to first place in France and has seven goals in eight matches in all competitions.

    “He’s been back in form for two months now but you can’t think that in two months somebody has changed who they are,” Ventura added.

    His last appearance for Italy came when the Azzurri were eliminated in the first round of the 2014 World Cup, where he was considered a distraction by several teammates.

    Ventura said he will have a discussion with Balotelli “to see if he has the desire to be a leader within the team.”

    (SD-Agencies)