Silvio Berlusconi: I once tried to lure Pep Guardiola to AC Milan

Speaking with Italian television channel TeleLombardia, the enigmatic Rossoneri president explained how he became besotted with the Spanish coach after watching his great Barcelona side take European football by storm.

Guardiola has since opted to join Manchester City from Bayern Munich in his latest move as one of European football's most decorated managers.

"As a coach, I was courting Guardiola at Barcelona," Berlusconi revealed, "he then became coach of Bayern - but the game expressed at Barcelona was what satisfied me more."

Milan have endured a dry period after several years without Champions League football and the 79-year-old is irked by the prices for the game’s top players today.

Given the famous Milan sides were helped by Berlusconi’s enormous wealth and a number of record-breaking signings at the time, the former Italian Prime Minister’s grievances come across as hypocritical.

"The names are known, but the demands are there to show how football now has become like a kind of monopoly,” Berlusconi explained.

He added: “These top figures have no connection with what are reasonable prices.”

Milan are in the process of thrashing out a deal to sell the club to China, which would provide much-needed funds to lift the Diavoli back to relevancy, though Berlusconi is desperate to remain involved with the club.