Silvio Berlusconi has splashed out nearly £1billion during his 30 years as president of AC Milan

Former Prime Minister of Italy oversaw conquest of FIVE European trophies

AC MILAN president Silvio Berlusconi has revealed has spent nearly £1billion during his 30 years at the club.

It is the Italian media tycoon’s anniversary — and here SunSport has looked back at the FIVE European Cups and Champions League conquestes in his time, as well as the acquisition of some of football’s greatest-ever players.

Berlusconi admits he has enjoyed seeing Milan grown into one of the most successful clubs in the world during his time in charge.

Ever the modest man, he said: “If I were giving myself a mark out of ten, I’d give myself an 11 for how it’s gone.

“They have been 30 magical years. We have won more than anyone.

“We have won 363million fans worldwide.

“And, above all, our love for Milan has been repaid and it has filled out hearts with joy.”

Manuel Rui Costa, signed from Fiorentina in 2001, is AC Milan's most expensive ever signing News Group Newspapers Ltd

Berlusconi admits beating Steaua Bucharest to win the first European Cup under his tenure stands out as his greatest highlight.

He added: “Beating Steaua Buchaest 4-0 for my first European Cup was unfortgettable.

“I remember everything about the unforgettable spectacle in a Nou Camp completely covered in red and black flags.”

AC Milan celebrate sensationally beating Steaua Bucharest in the 1989 European Cup final AP:Associated Press

The former Italian Prime Minister shocked world football in 1992 when he splashed out a then-world record fee — his second while at the club after spending £5.6m on buying Ruud Gullit from PSV in 1987 — of £13m on Torino winger Gianluigi Lentini.

The fee was so high, even Pope John Paul II was disgusted. He condemned it as “an offence against the dignity of work.”

However, Lentini is only 15th in the list of Berlusconi’s most expensive signings at Milan.

Steven Gerrard can't look as Sepp Blatter prepares to present Silvio Berlusconi and AC Milan with the 2007 Champions League Reuters

Manuel Rui Costa, brought from Fiorentina in 2001, tops the list at £34m — while other notables include the likes of Andrea Pirlo (£14.5m) and Clarence Seedorf (£18.1m) ‘stolen’ from city rivals Inter.

Arguably, Berlusconi’s best piece of business was persuading Ajax to part with star striker Marco van Basten in 1987 for just £470,000.

He has brought former Manchester City and Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli to the San Siro on two separate occasions.

Milan’s top ten most expensive transfers

Manuel Rui Costa from Fiorentina, 2001: £34m

Filippo Inzaghi from Juventus, 2001: £29.7m

Alessandro Nesta from Lazio, 2002: £24.2m

Ronaldinho from Barcelona, 2008: £19.5m

Alberto Gilardino from Parma, 2005: £19.5m

Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Barcelona, 2010: £19.4m

Andriy Shevchenko from Dynamo Kiev, 1999: £18.5m

Clarence Seedorf from Inter, 2002: £18.1m

Alexandre Pato from Internacional, 2007: £17.75m

Mario Balotelli from Manchester City, 2013: £16m