Arsenal given encouragement in their pursuit of Super Mario.
AC Milan vice-president Barbara Berlusconi has admitted that star striker Mario Balotelli is not ‘irreplaceable’ amid reports linking him with a summer transfer to Arsenal.
Balotelli, who joined Milan from Manchester City in January 2013, is rumoured to be keen on a return to England and Arsenal are said to be willing to give him the opportunity.
Milan’s Serie A rivals Napoli have also been linked with interest in the 23-year-old, who is currently with the Italian national team at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
“Balotelli is a great player and a real Italian talent, but nobody is irreplaceable. We’ll see what happens,” Sky Sports quote Berlusconi saying.
Brazilian playmaker Kaka is another player who has been linked with a potential summer move away from the San Siro.
MLS franchise Orlando City are said to be keen on the 32-year-old, who has 12 months left to run on his current contract.
Kaka has won Serie A, the Supercoppa Italiana, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup with Milan.
Berlusconi says that the club would like him to honour his contract, but she seemed to suggest that they will help to facilitate his departure if he wants to leave.
“Kaka made history with Milan and I know he needs to make this important decision with absolute calm,” added Ms Berlusconi, who is the daughter of club president Silvio Berlusconi.
“If he stays then we’ll be happy, but we’ll have to take it into account if he does want to go.”
Balotelli played 30 Serie A games last season, scoring 16 goals and providing six assists.
Meanwhile, Kaka also played 30 league matches, scoring seven times and making four assists.
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