Mario Balotelli has behaved perfectly since moving to AC Milan, says coach Sinisa Mihajlovic.

The 25-year-old's career has been subject to an unending list of distractions off the pitch, but since returning to the San Siro on loan from Liverpool this season Balotelli has stayed out of trouble.

Balotelli has only played in 16 games and scored three goals while dealing with a series of injury problems, but his manager said he still believes in the striker after meeting with him recently.

"I was blunt with him," Mihajlovic told Sky Sport Italia. "I wanted to talk to him and look at him, because I've known Mario since Roberto Mancini gave him his Inter debut.

"He was a kid then. Many years have passed and he's changed, too. I found a mature person, a man, not a boy.

Mario Balotelli has scored three goals in all competitions this season. AP Images

"I wanted to look him in the eyes, and he gave me the right impression. The key thing is that he's a good lad, and I really like him.

"He knows he's made a lot of mistakes, he's the first to admit that. It's true that everything is amplified when it comes to him, but it's also true that he brings a lot of that onto himself.

"His behaviour has been 10 out of 10 this year. He has to do more on the pitch, but he knows that as well and we've often talked about it. I'm certain we'll succeed."