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Striker Mario Balotelli is a doubt for Italy’s Confederations Cup opener against Mexico on Sunday after a thigh injury cut short his training session, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced on Friday.
The AC Milan striker, 22, complained of pain behind his right thigh as coach Cesare Prandelli put his side through their paces at the Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
“During training this afternoon at Havelange stadium, Azzurri striker Mario Balotelli felt a pain in his right biceps femoris…,” the FIGC said in a statement to journalists.
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They stopped his session as a precautionary measure, the statement added.
The head of the team’s medical team, Professor Enrico Castellacci, will assess his condition on Saturday, it said.
Balotelli, who finished as joint-top scorer at last year’s European Championship, was expected to lead the line for Prandelli’s side at the Confederations Cup.
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