Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli was given a heroes welcome when he paid a visit to a prison in Florence ahead of Tuesday’s international with Slovenia.
Team-mate Giani Buffon and international boss Cesare Pradelli were virtually ignored as the lags mobbed the former AC Milan striker.
During the visit which included a question and answer session Balotelli revealed: “I accepted right away when they asked me to come here. Boys, do not give up, everyone has a chance in life.”
Balotelli started the match on the bench but came on as a late substitute and helped Italy to a 1-0 win with fellow sub Giampaolo Pazzini scoring the only goal of the game.
With Balotelli picking up parking tickets on a weekly basis he may not have to wait too long for his next taste of prison life Manchester style.
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