Silvio Berlusconi: AC Milan pay tribute to 'unforgettable' owner, who has died at 86

AC Milan won 29 trophies during Silvio Berlusconi's ownership

AC Milan person paid tribute to "unforgettable" erstwhile proprietor Silvio Berlusconi pursuing his decease astatine the property of 86 connected Monday.

Under his leadership, Milan won 5 European Cups, arsenic good arsenic 8 Italian league titles.

In 2017, helium sold the nine to Chinese investors for 740m euros (£628m).

Milan tweeted: "Deeply saddened, AC Milan grieves the passing of the unforgettable Silvio Berlusconi and wishes to scope retired to the family, associates, and astir cherished friends to stock our sympathies."

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The erstwhile Italian premier curate returned to shot little than 18 months aboriginal erstwhile his holding company, Fininvest, bought 100% of shares successful third-division broadside Monza successful 2018.

Berlusconi and erstwhile Milan main enforcement Adriano Galliani guided the nine to Serie A for the archetypal clip successful their 110-year existence.

A Monza connection read: "Forever with us. Adriano Galliani and each AC Monza mourn the nonaccomplishment of Silvio Berlusconi.

"A void that tin ne'er beryllium filled, everlastingly with us. Thank you for everything President."

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, during his playing career, helped Milan assistance their archetypal league rubric of the Berlusconi epoch successful 1988 and returned to negociate the nine from 2001 to 2009.

The Italian was criticised by Berlusconi during his aboriginal seasons for his supposedly antiaircraft tactics but would spell connected to triumph the Champions League twice, the Coppa Italia and unafraid the Serie A trophy with an Italian grounds 82 points from 34 games.

Ancelotti wrote connected Twitter: "Today's sadness doesn't erase the blessed moments spent together.

"There remains infinite gratitude to the President, but supra each to an ironic, loyal, intelligent, sincere man, cardinal for maine arsenic a footballer first, and past arsenic a coach. Thank you President."

In a statement, AC Milan's metropolis rivals Inter said: "He has near an indelible people connected the past of our country. The challenges betwixt Inter and his Milan person made the metropolis of Milan the bosom of satellite football."

Berlusconi was a arguable fig and often complained of victimisation - peculiarly by prosecutors successful his autochthonal Milan - erstwhile claiming to person made 2,500 tribunal appearances successful 106 trials implicit 20 years.

Charges implicit the years person included embezzlement, taxation fraud and mendacious accounting, and attempting to bribe a judge. He was acquitted oregon had his convictions overturned connected respective occasions.