Italy coach Marcello Lippi has explained Mario Balotelli will not be going to the World Cup because he already has concrete plans for the tournament and will not change them.

Balotelli is hoping to squeeze himself onto the final 23-man list in May, but Lippi appears to have closed the door, despite his belief in the Inter striker.

“I have my own conviction and foundation on the players I will call, and I will stick with this,” Lippi told Rai Sport.

“Balotelli is a very special guy and I like him and I am convinced with how important it is for him to play at an international club that has World Cup players.

“He can learn a lot from them and take on the spirit of sacrifice and many other things.

Source: Goal.com