Prandelli worked with the Nice forward during his time as manager of Italy with the pair enjoying a successful run to the Euro 2012 final together.

Balotelli peaked during that tournament with his brace helping Italy beat Germany in the semifinals, but his career has not followed the expected path since.

He was loaned out to AC Milan by Manchester City just six months later and while he scored 12 goals in 13 games for the Rossoneri in the second half of the season, a subsequent move to Liverpool in 2014 did not turn out well.

"If Balotelli made a priority of his professional life, then he has no rivals," Prandelli told Italy's Radio Sportiva. "He's got incredible potential, but probably he just does not have the objective of becoming the best in the world."

Balotelli helped Nice to a 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday with his 14th goal of the season denting the Ligue 1 champions' hopes of defending their title while boosting Nice's chances of snatching second place and an automatic berth in next season's Champions League group stage.

There, Balotelli would get an opportunity to show what he can do at the highest level once again and Prandelli recently told Radio Due that he still believes there is time for him to reconsider his priorities.

"I still think he can do extraordinary things," Prandelli said. "Time is still on his side."