Following the death of former owner Silvio Berlusconi at the age of 86 on Monday, AC Milan has paid tribute to him as an “unforgettable” figure.
Berlusconi, who purchased his hometown club in 1986, is credited with transforming the struggling team into one of the most successful clubs in football history.
During his tenure, AC Milan won five European Cups and eight Italian league titles.
Milan tweeted:
“Deeply saddened, AC Milan grieves the passing of the unforgettable Silvio Berlusconi and wishes to reach out to the family, associates, and most cherished friends to share our sympathies“.
In 2017, he sold the club to Chinese investors for 740m euros (£628m).
Despite his achievements, Berlusconi was a controversial figure who frequently complained of persecution, particularly by prosecutors in Milan.
He claimed to have made 2,500 court appearances in 106 trials over two decades, facing charges ranging from embezzlement and tax fraud to false accounting and attempted bribery of a judge.
While he was acquitted or had his convictions overturned on several occasions, his legal battles were a significant part of his legacy.