Paolo Berlusconi, younger brother of AC Milan President and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, controversially described new arrival Mario Balotelli as “the family’s little n*****“ ahead of the Rossoneri’s 2-1 win against Udinese at the San Siro on Sunday. The comments were made during a political meeting in Monza near Milan and were caught on video by local reporters.

His full comment: "OK, we are all off to see the family's little n****. He's a crazy head. All the young ladies are invited as well - you can even have a chance to meet the president (Silvio Berlusconi)."

A spokesperson for AC Milan said there would be no comment from the club regarding the video.

The younger Berlusconi’s racist comment comes at a particularly sensitive time for Milan and for Italian soccer, the Independent points out. Just prior to Christmas, Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng staged a walk-off in a friendly game after being racially abused. Both teams followed him and the friendly was abandoned. His actions won praise from President Berlusconi at the time.