Silvio Berlusconi has high ambitions for AC Milan this season after his team brought in Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and hired a new coach.
''We aim to be protagonists in Italy and Europe,'' the Milan president and Italian prime minister told Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper in an interview published Friday. ''Barring any injuries, our lineup is top-level.''
Robinho and Ibrahimovic have joined an attacking lineup that already included Brazilian forwards Alexandre Pato and Ronaldinho.
Berlusconi said he had sought ''to put together a very spectacular Milan, one that can entertain, where all the best players can play together.''
Massimiliano Allegri replaced Leonardo as the new coach after the team finished third last season - good enough to qualify directly into the Champions League group phase but 12 points behind Serie A champions and city rivals Inter Milan.
Leonardo had a series of disagreements with Berlusconi, who is known to have strong opinions and a hands-on approach when it comes to his team's formation and tactics.
''I'm not a newcomer to football and I think I can have a say,'' Berlusconi said. ''I talked to Allegri, I told him what I think,'' he added. ''But the last word, as always, is his.''
