Italian champions Milan have tried to reassure their fans that the club would not be affected by the massive fine imposed on their owners Fininvest, the company of club president and Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, in connection with a bribery case.

A court on Saturday decreed that Fininvest should pay rival media group CIR 560million euros after it bribed a judge to approve the takeover of publishing group Mondadori in 1990.

However, vice-president Adriano Galliani, speaking at yesterday’s presentation of the squad for next season, said fans had nothing to fear.

“As long as Berlusconi is there, the fans can sleep easily,” said Galliani. “It’s a question I get all the time from fans in the street... The Mondadori affair is definitely not going to influence Milan during the transfer window. I want to reassure the fans, coaches and players.”

The comments mark something of a u-turn for Gallini who, on Monday, said that the fine was a major concern for the club.

“This is something that greatly affects AC Milan,” he said.

Berlusconi was due to attend the presentation in person but, according to Galliani, was forced to miss it because of “his national and international engagements”.