Milan's Silvio Berlusconi is 'madly in love' with Cristiano Ronaldo but is bluffing his interest in the Real Madrid superstar

Posted Thursday, April 07, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Silvio Berlusconi's recent comments claiming that Milan could make a move for Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo are a clever smokescreen based on the Italian prime minister's love for the player, a source close to the Rossoneri has told Goal.com.

The Diavoli president boasted to friends and close senators that his side could launch a spectacular bid to sign the Madrid No. 7 in the summer. However, it would take a large sum of cash to prise away the Portuguese forward, who cost Los Blancos €94 million when they signed him from Manchester United in 2009.

As Goal.com's source pointed out: "Milan do not have the economic resources to confront a big spend like this on Ronaldo. Of course, if Berlusconi really wanted to then he would get him as he has the money, but with figures over €100m Milan could buy a whole new squad, rather than spend it on one player. Therefore Milan know it wouldn't make sense to spend all of that money on one player.

"One thing is for sure though, Berlusconi is madly in love with Ronaldo."

But with the 26-year-old an unlikely acquisition, what will Milan's transfer policy look like instead? Our source believes that Berlusconi's comments were meant as a clever ruse.

"He said something similar back in the summer when he wanted to make a great signing like Cristiano Ronaldo, but then they got Zlatan Ibrahimovic. I think this is just a pre-tactic for Milan to shine the spotlight on a player they know is impossible to get, and then work in Ronaldo's shadow to get someone else.

"I think it's all one big scene, it's almost a joke. I don't think Milan will get him. It's a kind of fantasy football talk for the moment. The feeling at Milanello is almost as if it is a joke."

Berlusconi has certainly not been afraid to make big-name signings in the past. In 2008 he lured Ronaldinho away from Barcelona, and went back to the same club last summer to sign Ibrahimovic.

However, it is unlikely that Real Madrid will be quite so willing to part with their star man, who has netted 27 league goals so far this season. Their coach Jose Mourinho has reacted to the speculation regarding Ronaldo by saying that if his compatriot were to be sold he would quit the club.