AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani believes that Mario Balotelli is the club's answer to Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

The Italian international netted a brace on his debut for the Rossoneri to give them a 2-1 win over Udinese at the San Siro on Sunday.

Balotelli joined the Serie A outfit on transfer deadline day from Manchester City, and Galliani has compared the 22-year-old to Barcelona star Messi.

"His signing gives the perception that we have returned as a great Milan," Galliani told ESPN.

"This Milan, in attack, is similar to Barcelona. We don't have Messi but we have Super Mario Balotelli."

Balotelli has 16 caps for Italy.