Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani felt Mario Balotelli was destined to score for the club on his debut against Udinese.

All eyes were on the controversial striker following his £19 million return to Italy and he could have netted in the opening 60 seconds before grabbing his first Milan goal on 24 minutes.

Udinese equalised in the second half through Giampiero Pinzi and a draw looked certain until Milan were awarded a highly-debatable penalty, which Balotelli coolly converted with the last kick of the match.

Balotelli had initially been named among the substitutes but started the game after Giampaolo Pazzini injured himself in the warm-up and Galliani said: “He (Balotelli) is a big-time player and he started after Pazzini got injured... football is strange.

“Balotelli’s two goals were a sign of fate and he could have scored after 35 seconds. I didn’t see the second goal because I was in the dressing room.

“President (Silvio) Berlusconi spoke to the players and was very pleased. Our attack has a combined age of 60 and for the next 10 years I can rest easy. We have picked up 33 points in the last 15 games.

“We don’t have (Lionel) 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.”