Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho has likened the antics of Mario Balotelli to Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

He said: "At this moment Mario does what he has to do - express his potential. The rules of football do not state that a player keeps his potential to himself. He can dribble, turn with the ball and use his body to protect it.

"Cristiano Ronaldo does the same thing because he can, so it also applies to Mario. I haven't forgotten that an Atalanta player did the same to us when they were 3-0 up, but I heard no chants like that from the Inter fans in Bergamo, nor was anyone sent off for attacking that player.

"I did not see Mario do anything to provoke in Turin and in fact the chants against him started from the very beginning, not after the goal or his celebration.

"Mario loves playing football, he's happy, has confidence and quality that few others possess. That's it."