Milan: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he would sell AC Milan only to someone better for the club than him and nobody suitable has yet emerged.
Milan sold top player Kaka to Real Madrid for 67 million euros (USD 98 million) in the last transfer window and recruited very few new players in a bid to balance the books.
Rumours of a sale have since circulated, with Albanian tycoon Rezart Taci among those to express interest, but Berlusconi had always previously denied he would sell.
"I would make the sacrifice to sell Milan only to someone who would benefit the club more than me. Up to now, no one has come forward who fits the bill," Berlusconi said in an interview for a book to be published later this week.
The book on Italian politics, by famous television journalist Bruno Vespa, is called Donne di Cuori (Queens of the Heart).
Milan, who won the last of their seven European Cups in 2007 and their most recent Italian league title in 2004, suffered a poor start to this season but a 3-2 Champions League win at Real last month has boosted their confidence. The two sides play the reverse leg later.
Also in the book excerpt emailed to Reuters on Tuesday, Berlusconi said he believed Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was not interested in investing in Italian soccer.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 08:44