[MizNelson]

Blog: Silver tongue
Silvio Berlusconi can wind the media round his little finger, so Steve Wilson warns not to believe all you hear from the Milan camp

Silvio Berlusconi is a media mogul. He knows how the industry works. If you say something in the Press enough times people will eventually accept it as truth. He knows that whatever he says will get column inches and he knows that, if you let him, he can make you think what he wants you to think.

That is why for the last month or so, and for the next couple as well, there have been constant stories featuring unwarranted praise on his Milan players - specifically the men he brought to the club against the wishes of the Rossoneri fans.

His latest outpouring saw him declare that Kaka, Alexandre Pato, Ronaldinho, Andriy Shevchenko and David Beckham have all silenced their critics and proved their doubters wrong. I don't think we can legitimately trust the biased verdict of a man in the Milan camp - but, even so, his claims don't stand up to scrutiny.

Of the five players, Pato has been a revelation since arriving in Milan, but we suspected he would be anyway. Berlusconi claims that most saw him as a "vague hope for the far future". Is that why there was such hype about his January 2008 debut from the minute he signed in the summer of 2007?

Only the most naive think that Kaka has stayed at Milan because of any supreme loyalty. He just didn't fancy taking a gamble on the revolution at Manchester City. Expect to see him departing for Real Madrid in June or July, Beckham as good as confirmed this earlier in the week.

And what of Beckham, Ronaldinho and Shevchenko? It is too early for anyone to judge the England international's success, so Silvio's praise is PR bluster at best. Ronaldinho has been an improvement on his final days at Barcelona, but is far from at his peak, while Sheva has yet to score in Serie A since his return.

Nobody can stop Berlusconi mouthing off, but just remember next time you read his ramblings - every word he says is perfectly scripted and there is always an angle. Let your own eyes judge the merits of Milan's star players, not those of someone who wants you to believe they are better than they really are.

It's really hard to disagree with this article, especially since it was Berlu's shenanigans that jumpstarted the Kaka controversy. What do you think?

This post has been edited by MizNelson: Jan 25 2009, 08:25 AM

[han2503]

It's really hard to disagree with this article, especially since it was Berlu's shenanigans that jumpstarted the Kaka controversy. What do you think?

Agreed.

I'm very happy that Kaka stayed, and I personally don't believe a word that is printed on AS. But I can see Kaka moving on come this summer after this whole fiasco

[dst]

I agree with everything he says except the Kaka part. As always the people at Channel 4 jump to conclusions... let's wait and see what happens in the summer.

This post has been edited by dst: Jan 25 2009, 11:09 AM

[Zed.D]

I agree with everything he says except the Kaka part. As always the people at Channel 4 jump to conclusions... let's wait and see what happens in the summer.

+1

I know it won't be a bother to me once Kaka-leaving rumors come flying around again. I'm not going to believe anything until I see Kaka holding a Madrid jersey with my own eyes [not through AS's eyes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) ].

I personally think Kaka will play for us in the CL again. maybe at the end of 2009-2010 season he and the club think about the offers, but not before.

[I_Rossoneri]

If we are in CL next year then I can't see Ricky wanting to leave.

[armiss]

I dont like this type of discussions , much of them come from those people who are desperate of Berlusconi initiatives.

This post has been edited by armiss: Jan 25 2009, 04:20 PM

[Jack Sparrow]

Well...I have heard that Berlusconi is the closest Europe have to George Bush except with 10x brains and initiative. Is that true? Europeans?

[Fillipo Simone]

Well...I have heard that Berlusconi is the closest Europe have to George Bush except with 10x brains and initiative. Is that true? Europeans?

No. I don't concurr. Berlusconi is intelligent and operational man. His approach to politics is direct and a kind of a "Realpolitik", with delinquent italian accents. While Bush did make a gap between reds and blues, republicans and democrats, Berlusconi's politicall achievment was that his gouvernment is the most stable and long-lasting one in modern Italy history.

[armiss]

Hah Ha Ha , for many years before GW Bush, the only one who Berlusconi admired and knew more than anyone else was Silvio Berlusconi !

This post has been edited by armiss: Jan 25 2009, 09:51 PM

[Habitant]

did anyone hear what silvio said about ****/Italian women?

[Habitant]

By The Associated Press
ADVERTISEMENT

ROME - Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is being criticized for suggesting that Italy's women are so beautiful they need military escorts to avoid being *****.

Berlusconi made the comments Sunday, responding to questions about a proposal to deploy 300,000 soldiers in the streets to fight crime.

A string of violent crimes, including a **** in Rome on New Year's Eve and another outside the capital this week, prompted the proposal for added security.

But Berlusconi said even with added police, such crimes can happen, and that Italy needs so many soldiers on the streets "because our women are so beautiful."

Opposition legislator Giovanna Melandri called Berlusconi's comments "profoundly offensive."

Berlusconi says he was just complimenting Italian women.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[MizNelson]

What a maroon.

[Habitant]

i gotta agree with him that italian women are beautiful (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) but the way in which he said it, pretty disturbing.

[Jack Sparrow]

What's all the asterisks mean? I'm guessing he was referring to sexual violation...

I suppose he's not the smooth politician that Tony Blair is...but in general how is his government progressing? We had Italian members here no?

[acid911]

Yaaaaaaaawn! Same old, same old, with Mr. B. Always. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) No reason to be surprised or anything, those who know him, understand his nature. For a man who humped a security guard (in front of live TV), after he came out after a meeting with another leader, like he's the biggest gay around, impossible is nothing.

I know he was just joking at that time, you can watch it on Youtube if you want. But still.