Monza owner Silvio Berlusconi has promised his players sex workers if they beat Serie A giants AC Milan or Juventus in the new year.
The Italian minnows are competing in Serie A for the first time in their history this season after winning the second tier play-offs last term. They've won five of their first 15 league games to sit 14th in the table - nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Berlusconi's unsavoury remarks, however, have raised eyebrows. He made the comments at Monza's Christmas dinner party. "I told the guys... now you will play Milan, Juventus," he said, as quoted by The Guardian. "If you win against one of these top teams, I’ll bring a bus of w***** [sex workers] into the locker room."
A video of Berlusconi's speech has been shared on social media. Fellow Italian politician Daniela Sbrollini has referred to the remarks as the "usual misogynist language from Berlusconi: a joke in bad taste that leaves you speechless".
Berlusconi is best known for being Italy's PM between 1994 and 1995, 2001 and 2006, and 2008 and 2011 as leader of the Forza Italia party. He became a decisive figure in Italian politics due to his populist style, bold personality and turbulent private life.
Berlusconi has been involved in football for many years. He was the owner of Milan between 1986 and 2017, overseeing a hugely successful era in the club's history. They won eight Serie A titles and five European Cups during that time, among other honours.
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Berlusconi purchased Monza in 2018 and the minnows have since achieved two promotions to become a Serie A club. Monza lost their opening five league games this season but have since dragged themselves away from the drop zone with some good results.
Monza famously defeated Juventus 1-0 at home in September to secure their first ever top-flight victory. Raffaele Palladino's side will face Juventus again in January, with a clash against Milan pencilled in for February. Milan defeated Monza 4-1 at home in October.
Monza's next Serie A game is away at Fiorentina on January 4. They've reached the last 16 of the Coppa Italia, where they'll face Juventus in Turin on January 11.
Monza's squad includes on-loan Arsenal defender Pablo Mari - who is still recovering from being stabbed in October - former Croatia international Mirko Maric, Brazilian defender Carlos Augusto and former Denmark international Christian Gytkjaer.
Berlusconi, who is a billionaire, is still an active politician and was elected to the Italian senate in October after a three-year spell as a member of the European Parliament (MEP). The current Italian PM is far-right politician Giorgia Meloni, who was elected in October.
