Redknapp: I tried to sign Balotelli for Tottenham before Manchester City move
The former Spurs boss hailed the Italian striker following his Euro
2012 semi-final heroics and called for major changes at grass roots
level in the English game
The 21-year-old was Italy’s two-goal hero on Thursday night as the Azzurri defeated Germany 2-1 in the Euro 2012 semi-finals to set up a date with Spain in Sunday's showpiece.
Redknapp, who is currently unemployed after departing White Hart Lane
earlier in June, lauded the striker for his performance and admitted he
once attempted to loan the Italian while he was plying his trade at
Inter.
“You never know what you're going to get with Mario Balotelli but one thing is certain - he is a major talent,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.
“He stunned Germany in the Euro 2012 semi-final and his second goal was fantastic.
“I actually tried to sign him for Tottenham before he went to
Manchester City. I'd admired him for a while and I went over to Italy to
watch him play. I was impressed and I met up with him too.
“We wanted him on a loan deal but his club weren't keen and it never
happened. Shame because he's definitely got it and, at only
21-years-old, he'll be terrorising defenders for many seasons to come.”
Focusing on England’s Euro 2012 campaign, one which Redknapp was
widely tipped to lead before Roy Hodgson's appointment, the 65-year-old
sympathised with his compatriot.
“We did okay. Roy came in at a difficult time,” the ex-Spurs boss added.
“We came out of the group which wasn't the most difficult group in my opinion and then didn't play very well against Italy.
“I don't think anyone expected a lot more but I still think we've got
players in this country that are capable of doing a lot better and
hopefully Roy will take them on now.
“He's got time to work with the team but I think it's long term."
Redknapp believes that significant improvements are necessary at
grass roots level if England are to have any chance of competing with
the likes of Italy in the future.
He cited midfielder Andrea Pirlo as the type of player the English
system would never cultivate with their current “lumping the ball from
back to front” approach.
“Unless someone sorts it out and we start playing and producing
people that are technically better and are willing to play from the back
and receive the ball and play like Italy played against us where they
passed the ball - like the top teams in the world - they are never going
to improve,” Redknapp continued.
“The problem is they can set up Burton and have the kids there and
work on their skills and on their technique. The problem is that they
then go to football clubs and it depends how the clubs play.
“If the clubs are not going to play it's no good having somebody who
is going to be the new [Andrea] Pirlo and that kid goes to a club where
they are lumping the ball from back to front 60 yards.
“Unless they are going to play through these people and they are
going to encourage more and more teams to play football then we are
always going to have that problem.”
Source : Goal.com
