Mario Balotelli has some work to do to earn the respect of Italy coach Antonio Conte.

Conte tells the Gazzetta dello Sport that he's not sure Balotelli's decision to move back to England is positive or not, "but I do know that whoever joins the national team must then deserve to stay there."

Balotelli, Italy's most talented and most temperamental forward, transferred from AC Milan to Liverpool on Monday.

Conte says "the man is more important than the footballer. ... Talent is secondary. First you've got to sacrifice yourself for the squad."

Balotelli was criticized severely after Italy was eliminated after the first round of the World Cup under Cesare Prandelli, who then resigned.

Conte, who led Juventus to the last three Serie A titles, is a strict disciplinarian.