The video shows the Italy and AC Milan player playing a grand piano, watched by footballer Andrea Pirlo and surrounded by people filming on their mobile phones.

But as the camera moves around to the keys Balotelli’s face is out of shot, suggesting the hands shown are those of a stand-in pianist.

Despite the patriotic performance, 22-year-old Balotelli was not able to get Italian citizenship until he turned 18 because his biological parents were not Italian.

He has been supportive of Integration Minister Cecile Kyenge, who is trying to change the law to grant citizenship to children with foreign parents.

Balotelli has also recently extended his political outreach to Barack Obama, wishing the US president a happy birthday on Twitter on Sunday.

Watch the video of Balotelli playing the piano: