This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Silvio Berlusconi has claimed Milan’s black striker Mario Balotelli has “taken too much sun”.

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Berlusconi, who described Barack Obama as “tanned” in 2008, shortly after that year’s US presidential election, and again after the then Italian prime minister met the president in 2009, was discussing his wish for an all-Italian Milan team. The club’s owner then joked that the Italy forward Balotelli, “is also Italian even if he has taken too much sun”.

Berlusconi spoke at the Serie A’s club training ground during celebrations to mark his 30 years as owner. Balotelli was born in Sicily to Ghanaian immigrants and raised by Italian foster parents. He has suffered racist abuse throughout his career.

Balotelli, on loan from Liverpool, went to Anfield in 2014 after a season at Milan. Berlusconi says Milan could buy Balotelli back “if he wises up”.