Berlusconi plots bid for Ronaldo

Zlatan Ibrahimovic walks after getting the red card for swearing at a linesman during their Serie A clash against  Fiorentina at the weekend [GALLO/GETTY]

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi plans to bid for Real Madrid’s former world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo if his side win the Italian Serie A title, the Italian prime minister has said.

The Portuguese player has never indicated a wish to leave the Bernabeu but that has not deterred colourful Berlusconi, often accused by opponents of making outlandish bids for political popularity, from making the pledge on Italian TV late on Monday.

“If we win the scudetto then the next transfer window will see us add one or two great players, and one of those could be Ronaldo,” Berlusconi said.

“If we were able to add Ronaldo to our squad I think it would please everybody. Sometimes dreams come true.”

Ibrahimovic discipline

Berlusconi reined back spending during the global economic crisis but eased the purse strings at the start of this season with Zlatan Ibrahimovic arriving from Barcelona, although the Swede’s recent disciplinary problems have tested his patience.

“Did I throw my money away?” Berlusconi was quoted as saying by Italian media after forward Ibrahimovic was sent off for swearing in the 2-1 win at Fiorentina, triggering a second straight ban.

Several ageing Milan players reach the end of their contracts in the close season including Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo but the owner said he hoped both players would stay.

Ibrahimovic was banned for three games for swearing at a linesman, Serie A said on Monday, as it handed down a second hefty suspension on the Swede in two appearances.

Ibrahimovic was dismissed for insulting the official late on in Milan”s 2-1 win on Sunday as he returned from a two-match ban for striking an opponent in his previous outing.

Serie A said in a statement the sanction was for an “offensive remark” to the linesman even though the player said after the match he was swearing at himself.

Milan did surprisingly well without their top forward during his last ban, which he had reduced to two games from three on appeal, beating champions Inter Milan 3-0 with strike partner Alexandre Pato scoring twice.

The Rossoneri, who lead Napoli by three points, are closing in on their first Serie A title since 2004 but Ibrahimovic’s absence for half the six matches remaining still comes as a blow and they quickly said in a statement they would appeal.

Ibrahimovic’s recent loss of control mirrors a drop off in his performance levels after he virtually carried Massimiliano Allegri’s side in the first few months of the season following his move from Barcelona.

Milan are three points clear in Serie A with six games left as they bid for a first scudetto since 2004.