Mario Balotelli is 'first to arrive and the last to leave' for AC Milan training

Liverpool loanee is beginning to prove his doubters wrong at the San Siro

Samuel Stevens
Sunday 30 August 2015 09:41 EDT
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(Getty)

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AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani believes Mario Balotelli is a changed man since his loan move from Liverpool.

The 25-year-old endured a torrid season at Anfield, scoring just one Premier League goal in 16 appearances, as the Reds were knocked out of the Champions League before missing out on the top four.

Balotelli returned to Milan this month after hitting 26 goals in 43 league appearances in his first spell at the San Siro.

Galliani told the Gazzetta Dello Sport: “Balotelli turns up on time and is even early. He opens the gates of the Milanello [training ground].

“He is the first to arrive and the last to leave. I'm thinking about giving him the keys.

“The Balotelli issue was dreamed up and finalised all in one day. We didn’t plan for this.

“It depends on him now. He is a great player, but it depends on where his mind is. He seems to be matured, aware this is his last chance.”

Balotelli began his career at Lumezzane before making a name for himself under Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan until a lucrative switch to Manchester City in 2010, where he lifted the Premier League.

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