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Earlier this week, Paolo Berlusconi — brother of Milan owner and hilariously corrupt Prime Ministerial candidate Silvio — sparked controversy by referring to new Rossoneri signing Mario Balotelli as “il negretto di famiglia.” This is a very old fashioned term that essentially translates to something pretty racist.

Today, however, everything is totally cool, as the official AC Milan website published a picture of the right wing newspaper publisher and Super Mario embracing and smiling with one another at Milanello (Milan's training ground).

Since his surname is Berlusconi, Paolo has not made an apology for his wrongdoing, but he told the Milan Channel that he spoke to Balotelli, who was content to downplay the whole incident. Football Italia translates the quotes thusly:

“I spoke to Balotelli, though in reality there was no need, seeing as he is an intelligent lad. “He had already understood my phrase was an affectionate one that was turned into a stupid media circus. Let us close this story, as Mario told me there was no need to say anything else.”

As a player who said he would "kill" those who racially abuse him during Euro 2012, Balotelli's participation in this cumbersome photo opportunity seems a little confusing. Almost as confusing as Paolo Berlusconi being racist while his brother is attempting to run for office for the fourth time, less than a month after said brother vehemently defended Kevin Prince Boateng's decision to leave the field amid hateful chanting.