Disgraced former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has reportedly claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to give him Russian citizenship and make him economy minister.
"In Italy, I have been relegated to the sidelines, but Putin has told me he is willing to give me citizenship, and entrust me with running the economy ministry," La Stampa newspaper quoted Mr Berlusconi as saying at a dinner party.
"My future? Becoming minister for my friend Putin," the 78-year-old former Italian premier reportedly said.
Berlusconi has been hit by a string of legal woes, most recently being sentenced to three years in prison this month for bribing a senator.
Earlier this year, he completed a community service order for corporate tax fraud but was cleared of having sex with an under-age dancer known as Ruby the Heart-stealer after judges ruled he could not have known she was a minor.
Mr Putin and Berlusconi are longstanding friends and during a visit to Rome by the Russian leader in June, the media tycoon pledged his Forza Italia party would work to lift sanctions on Russia.
Two years ago, French actor Gerard Depardieu befriended Mr Putin and was given a Russian passport after criticising taxes on top earners in France.
