Allegri hails "extraordinary" Balotelli
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has described Mario Balotelli as "extraordinary" following his two-goal debut on Sunday.
By FOX Sports staff
Balotelli scored twice as Milan enhanced their bid for UEFA Champions League football next season with a 2-0 win over Udinese in Serie A.
"He has extraordinary technical and physical qualities," Allegri said on the club's website.
"He can reach his full potential at Milan."
Balotelli is a £19million signing from Manchester City, but was actually supposed to start Sunday's game on the bench. A huge crowd with hundreds of banners had turned up to welcome their new striker and they were left disappointed when Balotelli's name was only listed among the substitutes.
However, Giampaolo Pazzini injured himself in the warm-up and so Balotelli took to the field from the start.
And it did not take long for the Italy international to open his account as he put away Stephan El Shaarawy's pullback on 25 minutes.
"He is a big-time player and he started after Pazzini got injured; football is strange," Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said.
"Balotelli's two goals were a sign of fate and he could have scored after 35 seconds.
He added: "We don't have Messi but we have Balotelli. This attack reminds me of Barcelona and we will see the benefit in terms of sponsors because he is only 22 and he has great potential."
Balotelli scored the winning goal from the penalty spot