#TBT: A GOAL BORN IN A CARPARK

Thirty-one intense but productive days. They were the days that separated Mario Balotelli from his return to Italian football and the one and only league goal during in his second spell with the Rossoneri that came against Udinese. The first day was 22 August 2015. Milan had taken the train to Santa Maria Novella station in Florence for the opening fixture of the season. Siniša Mihajlović had history at Fiorentina and was one of the first to disembark to avoid the spotlight while quickly heading for the team bus ahead of the match. Siniša was even further away from the spotlight in the night when he met Mario Balotelli in a Florence carpark.

After getting to know him at Inter and following him over the following years. Siniša demanded that SuperMario give his all in terms of effort and professionalism while also accepting and respecting the Coach’s decisions. All was fine and Milan got in contact with Liverpool while in Florence. Balotelli’s second Milan debut came on 13 September 2015 in the derby, three minutes after Guarin scored for the Nerazzurri. That evening, SuperMario severely tested Handanovic and also hit the post from a free kick but it still turned out to be a negative result for Milan. Balo featured for another 20 minutes in the following match, a 3-2 win over Palermo before starting in the next after that.

Balotelli's 31-day run came to an end with him starting away at Udinese on matchday five. Five minutes in, he fired the Rossoneri ahead. It was a great goal from a free kick that would be his only league goal of the campaign although Mario hit a further two in the Coppa Italia. That match saw Milan win 2-3 at Udinese after going three up before the home side put up a spirited fightback.

The official PUMA match kits for the 2019/20 season are now available in the AC Milan Online Store!