Former AC Milan vice-president Paolo Berlusconi admits it's been difficult watching the team struggle this season.

His older brother, Silvio, sold the club in April but an emotional connection with the Rossoneri remains.

“As fans we're all suffering," Berlusconi explained to Tuttomercatoweb.

“After the club was sold I wanted to see if my suffering would be different but nothing changed. After a big transfer campaign, we have fewer points than this time last year with a team which hasn't proven to be competitive yet.

“These criticisms shouldn't be taken as condemnation though, the new owners need time. You can't blame my brother, because the new owners invested heavily in the transfer market.

“The new directors decided to take 11 new players instead of great players. We have to give it time though, after many years of success there can be years of transition.

“Now there's a new directorship which must try to revive Milan. It makes my smile, this hypothesis that this was a fake sale and just my brother's manoeuvre to bring back money from abroad.

“That is bad faith and stupidity."