Super Mario – Balotelli mobbed by AC Milan teammates after scoring his first goal in seven months
Controversial striker curls free-kick in after starting for first time
Mario Balotelli broke out of his seven-month scoring slump with a beautiful free kick and AC Milan held on for a 3-2 win over Udinese in Serie A on Tuesday.
Starting for the first time since rejoining Milan on loan after a dismal season at Liverpool, Balotelli curled the ball into the top corner after five minutes. The temperamental striker let out a rare celebratory smile as he was mobbed by his teammates.
Asked about the rare smile, since he usually shows no emotion after scoring, Balotelli said: “I’m always the same. In the changing room and in life I’m a completely different person from the one described for years [by others].
“Little by little I’m knocking the weight off my shoulders, because over the last few years between Italy and England too much has been said of me, but I’ve remained silent,” Balotelli added. “I’m behaving well in the changing room and I have good relationships with my teammates.”
Having scored only one goal in the Premier League last season, Balotelli is looking to revive his career and regain his place in Italy’s squad for next year’s European Championship.
“He showed that the real Balotelli is back and that he knows how to deal with being provoked,” new Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic said. “He was perfect. We all know about his skills and today he was the best player on the pitch — both for his play and for his behavior.”
“He made the difference,” added Mihajlovic, a free kick specialist himself as a player. “But he’s got to continue like this because it’s just the start. ... Compliments to [Milan vice president Adriano] Galliani because he got a strong player at zero cost.”
Giacomo Bonaventura doubled the lead five minutes after Balotelli’s opener and Cristian Zapata added another for the visitors in first-half added time.
Emmanuel Badu and Duvan Zapata scored for Udinese early in the second half.
“We conceded two stupid goals but we fought until the end, so compliments to my teammates,” Balotelli said.
A yellow card later in the first half appeared to slow him down.
“I’m still happy with my performance,” Balotelli said, adding that he’s getting used to defenders attempting to provoke him. “Well either they get a yellow or my legs but they don’t see the ball.”
Including his first spell with Milan, Balotelli has scored 18 of his 27 goals with the Rossoneri from dead ball opportunities.
