(CNN) -- Italy striker Mario Balotelli has condemned racist abuse from his country's own supporters during Wednesday night's international friendly against Romania in Austria.
The 20-year-old, who was born in Brescia but has Ghanaian parents, was targeted by a small group of people who raised banners with slogans including "No to a multi-ethnic national team," the Reuters website reported.
Balotelli, who is in his first season at English club Manchester City, played for an hour of the 1-1 draw in Klagenfurt before being substituted.
"Honestly, I don't know what to say. If I have to hear those chants every time, you can't go forward like that," he told Italian television channel Mediaset.
"I am happy to be in the national team. It wouldn't be right to stop a game because a few fans that turn up to the stadium behave like that.
CNN
