Monza president Silvio Berlusconi promises team prostitutes if they beat AC Milan or Juventus

Silvio Berlusconi looks on during the celebrations of the first historic promotion of AC Monza to Serie A in its 110-year history at U-Power Stadium Brianteo on May 31, 2022 in Monza, Italy.
(Image credit: Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)

Monza president Silvio Berlusconi has promised the club's players "a bus of whores" if they beat Serie A big boys AC Milan or Juventus later this season.

On Wednesday, a video emerged on social media of the former Italian Prime Minister talking about the rather crude incentive. At a Christmas dinner with the team on Tuesday, he said (quotes via Reuters):

"I told the guys ... now you will play Milan, Juventus. If you win against one of these top teams, I'll bring a bus of whores into the locker room."

To anyone familiar with Berlusconi's history, these remarks will come as no surprise: the 86-year-old – who owned AC Milan for more than three decades – gained notoriety for his 'bunga bunga' sex parties.

In 2015, he was cleared of having had sex with an underage prostitute at one such event.

Under Berlusconi's ownership, Monza gained promotion to Serie A for the first time in their history last term, triumphing in the Serie B play-offs.

The Biancorossi have made a solid start to life in the top flight, winning five of their opening 15 games to sit 14th in the table before the World Cup break.

They return to action in the New Year with a trip to Fiorentina; they also travel to Juventus (who they beat 1-0 at home in September) twice in January – in the Coppa Italia then the league – before hosting Milan in February.

Tom Hancock

Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...