[han2503]

Berlusconi: Pirlo is sellable

Milan patron Silvio Berlusconi has not ruled out selling Andrea Pirlo and insists Ronaldinho will be important next season.

Pirlo, who is currently on international duty with Italy, is being strongly linked with a move to Chelsea.

“We'll see what happens. I was the first to say that Pirlo has to stay, but then they made me look at the accounts,” Berlusconi said.

He then moved to reassure Milan fans, telling them that the club can go forward without Kaka.

The Brazilian was sold to Real Madrid earlier this month for £59m.

“Kaka did not invent the game of football. Alexandre Pato can substitute him even in that role [behind the strikers],” Berlusconi explained.

Later on, he endorsed Ronaldinho, the two-time former World Player of the Year, who joined Milan last summer.

The 29-year-old endured a poor first season in Italy and often appeared as a substitute.

“Ronaldinho will have a great year,” Berlusconi declared.

He then turned his attention to the amount of money Real Madrid are spending in the transfer market.

“There are figures in football that are pure folly, figures that bear no relation to the normal economy.

“They are outside of common sense and decency,” he added.

Finally, Berlusconi expressed his confidence in Milan, who he expects to do well next season.

“This year we have a great team. We could have already won something last year, but it didn't happen because we lost points in the dying minutes and made mistakes because we didn't hold on to the ball,” he concluded.

[MizNelson]

Milan will consider offers for Pirlo, says Berlusconi
By Soccernet staff
June 22, 2009
AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has said he will consider offers for Andrea Pirlo after being stunned by the size of the Italy midfielder's salary.

Berlusconi had previously said no more big names would leave the San Siro after they sold Brazil playmaker Kaka to Real Madrid for £56m earlier this month but the Rossoneri chief has had a change of heart.

"If there's an offer, it should be considered," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "We'll see. I was the first to say that he must stay, but then they showed me the sums (for his salary)."

Chelsea are leading the race to sign the 30-year-old, who is thought to earn almost £6m a season, with former Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti keen to be reunited with the World Cup winner at Stamford Bridge.

Pirlo has a contract that runs through to 2012 and Milan are reportedly asking for £20m to part with the midfielder.

So Berlu suddenly wants to dump Pirlo because he was apparently clueless about how much he was making, even though the money was coming out of his own pocket?

Good Christ. What was that line from Sanford and Son? "I'm comin', Elizabeth, this is the BIG one!"