"Don't give up on Balotelli'' -Baffoe

Ex-Ghana defender Tony Baffoe has told the Ghana Football Association not to relent in its quest to lure Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli to play for the Black Stars.

His suggestion comes in the wake of another failed attempt by coach Milovan Rajevac to hold talks with the 19-year-old last week.

 
Balotelli was born to Ghanaian parents in Italy but was adopted by an Italian family at age three and has made his intention to play for the Azzuri.

 
Baffoe, who grew up in Germany, believes the young prodigy is facing a problem of choice and has urged the Ghana Football Association not to throw in the towel despite several failed attempts.

 
He told Citifm: "I suggest that we invite him to our beautiful country, just invite him so that he gets to know about us, for people to see him, how they cheer him up, how they love football, for him to go through these emotions.

 
Baffoe believes the racial slurs several by the teenager in Italy could push him to opt for the Black Stars.

 
"So it's up to him now to find the switch because I have experienced it before, people throwing banana at you, spitting at me but I was mentally very strong.

 
"I'm sure, excuse me to say his white adoptive parents don't want it but he has to know he is from this continent, he is from Africa." he added.

 
Balotelli has been promised a place in Ghana's 2010 World Cup squad by head coach Milovan Rajevac.