AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has admitted that his club need to not only return to the Champions League, but contend for the European crown.

The 79-year-old visited the team's training session earlier this week, and the club president revealed that he wants his side to be challenging on all fronts sooner rather than later.

Berlusconi told reporters: "Being champions for us is a categorical imperative, Milan cannot be out of the semi-finals and final of the Champions League."

The former Italian Prime Minister also praised 16-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who deputised in place of Diego Lopez in Milan's 1-0 win against Chievo.

Berlusconi added: "It is a beautiful thing to see a 16-year-old ready for Serie A, he will be our goalkeeper for the next 20 years."

Milan take on sixth-placed Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.