Liverpool flop Mario Balotelli rediscovers scoring touch as striker nets stunning free-kick against Udinese in Serie A clash

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Mario Balotelli is currently on loan at AC Milan from Liverpool
Balotelli joined Liverpool from Milan for £16million last summer
He struggled to make much of an impact on Merseyside and was loaned back
The Italy striker scored a long-range free-kick in the 3-2 win over Udinese on Tuesday night
It's not too late to sign up for MailOnline's fantasy football game

Published: 14:37 EST, 22 September 2015 | Updated: 19:44 EST, 22 September 2015

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Mario Balotelli scored his first goal since rejoining AC Milan on loan, a stunning free-kick in the 3-2 win over Udinese in Serie A on Tuesday night.

The 25-year-old maverick striker, castaway by Liverpool after enduring a torrid season on Merseyside that yielded just four goals, fired a rocket-shot from 30 yards to give Milan a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute.

Giacomo Bonaventura then volleyed in from Riccardo Montolivo's cross and Colombia defender Cristian Zapata headed in from a corner to give the Rossoneri a 3-0 lead by half-time.

"Balotelli is back!" - @FinallyMario shows @LFC fans what they're missing with a superb free-kick for @acmilan http://t.co/nLb4N4G0TY
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) September 22, 2015

Maverick striker Mario Balotelli, on loan at AC Milan from Liverpool, celebrates scoring against Udinese on Tuesday night

Balotelli takes a short run up before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the far corner of the Udinese net

Balotelli strikes the ball cleanly, as the Italy international shows what he's capable of following a poor season at Liverpool

Balotelli's shot soars over the wall and into the far corner of the net as Milan take a 1-0 lead against Udinese

The goalkeeper is left rooted tot he spot as Balotelli's free-kick is shot past him at a blistering pace during Tuesday's Serie A clash

Balotelli is congratulated by midfield team-mate Nigel de Jong (centre) after opening the scoring against Udinese

Udinese fought back in the second-half, though, and goals from Emmanuel Badu and Duvan Zapata set up a dramatic finale at the Friuli Stadium.

Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez made a brave save at Cyril Thereau's feet, Maurizio Domizzi sent a free header over the bar and Lopez punched away a powerful Bruno Fernandes drive as the visitors clung on for all three points.

Fernandes was sent off in stoppage time amid angry protests as Udinese slumped to their fourth successive defeat since their shock opening day win at champions Juventus.

Still, the story of the night remains firmly Balotelli's. He joined Liverpool from Milan in a £16million transfer last summer, but struggled for form and was criticised for his ill-discipline both on and off the pitch.

Indeed, Balotelli, once billed as one of world football's most gifted youngsters, has often seen his abilities undercut by controversies.

He was described as 'unmanageable' by Jose Mourinho when the Portuguese was in charge at Balotelli's first club Inter Milan, and during his spell at Manchester City threw a dart at a youth team player in a training ground 'prank.'

It is this sort of behaviour that led Milan to insert behaviour-related clauses into his current contract. If the evidence against Udinese is anything to go by, though, it seems to be working.