AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has again admitted his great admiration for Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon.

"I, like all other presidents, like this athlete," said Berlusconi. "He is a nice and good man.

"I would have liked to have signed him, but then we spoke with Dida and were able to work something out, he is also a great goalkeeper."

Berlusconi defended Milan's Brazilian No1: "The role of the goalkeeper is the most difficult, it is not easy to predict how the ball will come to him, neither supporters nor journalists understand in depth the problems.

"It's a tough job that of the goalie . Dida and Buffon are two great goalkeepers."