The Liverpool striker has blasted the former Italy coach, who publicly criticised him after the Azzurri were eliminated from the World Cup in Brazil

Mario Balotelli has slammed Cesare Prandelli, accusing the former Italy coach of not being a “real man”.

The Liverpool star was publicly criticised by Prandelli following the Azzurri’s group stage exit at the World Cup, with the striker hauled off at half-time during the decisive 1-0 defeat to Uruguay.

“Real men, if they have something to say, then they come to you and say it to your face,” Balotelli told Sport.

“I am a face-to-face person, a straight person.

“Prandelli 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 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 all tournament. Everyone knows I scored against England, but I couldn’t do much else.”

Prandelli resigned after the World Cup debacle, taking the Galatasaray job which Roberto Mancini had vacated, but Balotelli has not been called up since by new coach Antonio Conte as he has struggled to rekindle his 2013 form.

“I understand why I am not in the squad,” he stated.

“I haven’t been scoring, but 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.”

Balotelli made his Italy debut back in 2010 and has scored 13 goals in 33 appearances.