Lazio midfielder Cristian Brocchi believes former club AC Milan is struggling to compete with Europe's best after selling Kaka to Real Madrid.

"Italian football at the moment is suffering, and as in life, to go forward, you must have the rules," said Brocchi. "AC Milan had to heal and so the choice to sell Kakà was forced.

"Over the years the team has perhaps had strong relationships with certain players and if they made this choice it means that there was no other alternative.

"On other occasions, they would never have sold a player of such importance and with such devotion to the club."