West Ham flop Simone Zaza gets Italy call up, Balotelli snubbed again
West Ham striker Simone Zaza has surprisingly snatched a call-up to senior Italy national team squad despite being still without a goal in the first nine appearances with the Hammers this season.
Zaza moved from Juventus to West Ham last summer on a loan deal with option to buy. The Hammers can activate Zaza’s buy-out clause once the player registers his 14th appearance with the Premier League side.
“Zaza’s going through hard times, but I am open to help if he needs”, Ventura told La Stampa yesterday.
The Italian tactician failed to give Mario Balotelli a chance, leaving the OGC Nice striker out of squad again. Balotelli, a former Liverpool and AC Milan player, has seven goals in eight games in all competitions so far this season, but Ventura wants to see more from the former Liverpool flop before giving him a new chance with the azzurri shirt.
FULL SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Buffon, Donnarumma, Perin
Defenders: Antonelli, Barzagli, Bonucci, Darmian, De Sciglio, Romagnoli, Rugani, Zappacosta
Midfielders: Cataldi, De Rossi, Marchisio, Parolo, Verratti
Wingers: Bernardeschi, Bonaventura, Candreva, Insigne, Politano, Sansone Strikers: Belotti, Eder, Gabbiadini, Immobile, Pavoletti, Zaza
