AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has virtually guaranteed that Mario Balotelli will start his first game for the club when the Rossoneri host Udinese at the San Siro on Sunday. Balotelli joined Milan from Manchester City for a fee of around 30 million euros ($40.9m) this week in a deal that will see him remain with the Serie A giants until 2017. Although Allegri welcomed the Italy striker, he said the team must forget the recent media hype surrounding the 22-year-old star and maintain the impressive recent form that has seen them climb to fifth place in the table.

AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli hit out at the English media, weather and food, but had kind words for former club Manchester City as he was officially unveiled at the San Siro Friday. Balotelli, who grew up as a fan of the Rossoneri, joined Milan for a fee of around 30 million euros in a deal that will see him remain at the Serie A giants until 2017. Although admitting he would miss the "amazing" English Premier League, Balotelli said he was "really happy" to have returned to Milan, where he played for arch city rivals Inter prior to his City move in 2010.

* "Candidate Mario" Balotelli could influence vote, commentators say * Opposition says Berlusconi using soccer star as stepping stone * Balotelli, a naturalised Italian, has suffered racism By Philip Pullella ROME, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Soccer players do not usually enter a nation's political fray but when the country is Italy, the player is Mario Balotelli and the person running for office is his new boss Silvio Berlusconi, all bets are off.

(Adds further details) * Combustible forward going back to Italy * Milan medical expected on Wednesday Jan 29 (Reuters) - Mario Balotelli, whose wacky antics have filled the British newspapers almost daily in the last two and a half years, is set to return to Italy with AC Milan after a deal was agreed with Manchester City on Tuesday.