[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.