Striker Mario Balotelli has big regrets over his decision to play for Italy instead of Ghana - the country of his real parents - his biological father has revealed.
Thomas Barwuah, the Ghanaian who gave up the striker for adoption, has revealed that incessant racist abuse and media attacks have led to the AC Milan regretting the decision.
The 25--year-old rues the decision to turn down the Ghana FA when they chased him in 2011 seeking him to play for the West Africans.
He acquired his full Italian citizenship before playing for the Europeans and has so far played 33 matches for the Azzuri.
However his recent loss of form and the prediction in the media that he would be axed from the Italian national team for the Euro 2016 Championship has led to regrets of his decision to play for the European country.
“Himself (Balotelli), has started realising he made a big mistake playing for the Italian National Team and he has told friends about it”, Barwuah told GazzettaGhana.
“He is not being treated well, true they don’t show him the love he deserves for his great talent and skill. I think that all he gets is abuse, especially from the media here and that is because he is black”.
“They don’t like him and it started from the beginning, they didn’t want to see a black boy like himself taking glory of the Italian National Team.”
Balotelli is the first black player to play for the Italian national team.