AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli gestures towards the audience during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and AC Milan, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

AC Milan's Mario Balotelli silences racial taunts

Published: 11:22:18 PM, Sun 24 February 2013 UTC

MILAN (AP) — Mario Balotelli of AC Milan was subjected to racial taunts by fans of his former club Sunday, but he kept his composure and held a finger to his mouth to signal for quiet.

Inter supporters waved inflated bananas and whistled at Balotelli, who is of Ghanian descent. He was facing Inter for the first time since transferring from Manchester City to Milan last month.

He gestured to the fans in the second half of a game that ended 1-1.

Balotelli had three scoring chances, notably a header in which goalkeeper Samir Handanovic made a spectacular save.

"Balotelli did very well not to react to the provocations, I'm just sorry he wasn't able to score," Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri said. "He had a great first half. Let's not forget that he's 22 years old and he was playing against his former squad. It's to be expected that he felt pressure for this match."

Balotelli played for Inter from 2006-10, helping the club to three titles in his final season with the team. He already has four goals for Milan.

The derby ended 1-1.

Tags: ap, ac milan, mario balotelli, inter, manchester city, club, milan, balotelli, english-language films, half, fans, sunday, sports, a.c. milan, finger, f.c. internazionale milano, header, supercoppa italiana, liverpool f.c., insults, final season, racial taunts, scoring chances, composure, bananas, shut up, milan derby, treble, spectacular save, balotelli silences, goalkeeper samir handanovic, inter supporters, mouth midway, ghanian descent, derby della madonnina

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