Mario Balotelli’s arrival will force Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri to reshuffle his side just as they seemed to be getting into their stride and adapting to life without big-name players.

After a miserable start to the season, Milan, who host Udinese tomorrow, have bounced back to win seven of their last nine league games and climb to fifth in Serie A, giving them hope of challenging for a Champions League place.

Milan supporters gave Balotelli a rapturous reception when he arrived in the city on Wednesday and one policeman was reported injured as more than 1,000 fans mobbed the striker outside the restaurant where he had dinner with club directors.

But amid the euphoria and chaos, there is a risk that the wildly unpredictable striker could disrupt, rather than improve, a team who has started to gel.

His signing also represents a dramatic U-turn by club president Silvio Berlusconi, who last month likened Balotelli to a ‘rotten apple’ and said the club would not sign him.

“I have formed my opinion of Mario Balotelli as a man and I would never accept him in the changing room,” said the former Italian prime minister.

“At all clubs and especially here at Milan, the personality of a player is important and if there is a rotten apple in the changing room, it will affect the others.”

Yet on Wednesday, Berlusconi’s chief executive Adriano Galliani was singing a different tune.

“I have always dreamed about presenting Mario Balotelli,” said Galliani after Balotelli arrived at Milan in a private jet.

“Mario’s arrival has greatly strengthened our team and we are very happy. We have worked really hard for this.”

Balotelli, who played at neighbours Inter before moving to Manchester City, said it had also been a lifelong dream.

“I’ve been wanting to play for Milan for a long time but hadn’t been able to until now,” he said.

Balotelli’s arrival presents the biggest challenge so far for the unflappable Allegri, who has so far proved highly adept in dealing with players regarded as troublesome, such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho.

At the end of last season, Ibrahimovic and defender Thiago Silva led a queue of players through the exit door as Milan decided that the priority would be to put the club on a firmer financial footing.

With the team under less pressure to deliver titles, Allegri seemed to be enjoying the challenge of rebuilding the side with players such as teenager M’Baye Niang and 20-year-old Stephan El Shaaraway, who had exceeded expectations and is Serie A’s second leading scorer with 15 goals.

Although Balotelli himself is only 22 and fits into the youth-orientated policy, his arrival will inevitably raise expectations and put the pressure firmly back on Allegri.

The Milan coach has not yet commented on whether Balotelli will face Udinese in tomorrow evening game on a weekend which gives Napoli the chance to pull level with leaders Juventus.

Juventus, who will have coach Antonio Conte serving the first of a two-match touchline ban, are away to mid-table Chievo in the tomorrow’s mid-day match while Napoli host Catania this evening.

Third-placed Lazio, whose title challenge slipped with a shock home defeat by Chievo last weekend, travel to Genoa with only three points separating them from fourth-placed Inter, who visit table-propping Siena.

Serie A

Played Yesterday

Roma 2
Totti 35, Marquinho 90
Cagliari 4
Nainggolan 3, Goicoechea 46og, Sau 53; Pisano 71.

Ht: 1-1. Att: 38,000

Playing Today

Torino Vs Sampdoria 18.00
Napoli Vs Catania 20.45

Tomorrow – 15.00
Chievo Vs Juventus 12.30
Fiorentina Vs Parma
Genoa Vs Lazio
Milan Vs Udinese 20.45
Palermo Vs Atalanta
Pescara Vs Bologna
Siena Vs Inter

Standings: Juventus 49; Napoli 46; Lazio 43; Inter 40; Milan 37; Fiorentina 36; Catania 35; Roma 34; Udinese 33; Parma 31; Chievo 28; Torino (-1) 27; Cagliari, Sampdoria (-1) 24; Atalanta (-2) 23; Bologna 22; Pescara 20; Genoa 18; Palermo 17; Siena (-6) 14.

Serie B

Played Yesterday
Reggina Vs Verona1-1

Today – 15.00
Brescia Vs Spezia
Cittadella Vs Crotone
Grosseto Vs Padova
Livorno Vs Pro Vercelli
Novara Vs Cesena
Sassuolo Vs Empoli
Ternana Vs Bari
Varese Vs Modena
Vicenza Vs Juve Stabia

Monday
Ascoli Vs Lanciano20.45

Leading Standings: Sassuolo 51; Livorno 48; Verona 47; Varese (-1) 36; Empoli (-1) 33; Brescia, Modena (-2) 32; Juve Stabia, Padova (-2) 30.