The idea of Mario Balotelli leaving AC Milan is gathering pace after Vice-president Barbara Berlusconi admitted that ‘nobody is irreplaceable’.
Currently the Italian international is on World Cup duty in Brazil, but reports in the British press yesterday and today on Sky Sports were suggesting that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was secretly holding talks with Balotelli’s agent Mino Raiola about a £25 million move to the Emirates.
“Balotelli is a great player and a real Italian talent, but nobody is irreplaceable. We’ll see what happens,” said Berlusconi, who is the daughter of club president Silvio Berlusconi and also joint-CEO.
Another player whose future is in doubt at the San Siro is Brazilian midfielder Kaka with reports linking him to Major League Soccer side Orlando City.
She said: “Kaka made history with Milan and I know he needs to make this important decision with absolute calm. If he stays then we’ll be happy, but we’ll have to take it into account if he does want to go.”
Despite all the talk of players leaving AC Milan the club have their eyes on a Balotelli replacement in the form of the highly-rated Hellas Verona forward Juan Manuel Iturbe, who according to Berlusconi they are trying to sign.
“Adriano Galliani (chief executive) and my father are working on it. This is a very solid club, among the best in Europe in terms of income,” she said at a press conference.
