The 25-year-old maverick striker, castaway by Liverpool after enduring a torrid season on Merseyside that yielded just four goals, fired a rocket-shot from 30 yards to give Milan a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. 

Giacomo Bonaventura then volleyed in from Riccardo Montolivo's cross and Colombia defender Cristian Zapata headed in from a corner to give the Rossoneri a 3-0 lead by half-time.  

Udinese fought back in the second-half, though, and goals from Emmanuel Badu and Duvan Zapata set up a dramatic finale at the Friuli Stadium.

Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez made a brave save at Cyril Thereau's feet, Maurizio Domizzi sent a free header over the bar and Lopez punched away a powerful Bruno Fernandes drive as the visitors clung on for all three points. 

Fernandes was sent off in stoppage time amid angry protests as Udinese slumped to their fourth successive defeat since their shock opening day win at champions Juventus.

Still, the story of the night remains firmly Balotelli's. He  joined Liverpool from Milan in a £16million transfer last summer, but struggled for form and was criticised for his ill-discipline both on and off the pitch.

Indeed, Balotelli, once billed as one of world football's most gifted youngsters, has often seen his abilities undercut by controversies.

He was described as 'unmanageable' by Jose Mourinho when the Portuguese was in charge at Balotelli's first club Inter Milan, and during his spell at Manchester City threw a dart at a youth team player in a training ground 'prank.'

It is this sort of behaviour that led Milan to insert behaviour-related clauses into his current contract. If the evidence against Udinese is anything to go by, though, it seems to be working. 

(dailymail.co.uk)