AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has warned Alexandre Pato he cannot expect a regular start while he cannot prove his fitness.

Pato has questioned his future at Milan in recent days.

It is right to limit his appearances until he achieves full fitness, but we guarantee he has the utmost respect, appreciation, affection and warmth at Milan," replied Berlusconi on Milan Channel.

"Pato is and was our greatest jewel at age 22 with the possibility of a decade in front of him as Milan's club symbol.

"His football and skills are not under question, but there were a series of many - too many - injuries. Now he has emerged from this negative streak, but still needs to recover full fitness and faith in himself. He shouldn't be exposed to intense participation in the games when he is still in this condition. If he picked up another injury, his confidence would hit rock bottom.

"Pato is a problem because all these incidents have left people with baited breath whenever he takes to the field. I imagine he too is wondering whether his body will hold up. Pato is absolutely not on the market. He is coming off a series of bad injuries and has not proved he is fully recovered yet."