Silvio Berlusconi claims he received an offer from Putin to become Russia’s

He is said to have told those in the Consolini restaurant that his future was as a minister for his “friend Putin”.

Silvio Berlusconi was “only joking” when he said that President Vladimir Putin had offed him the position of Russia’s 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 quoted him telling a fellow guest at a dinner party.

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Berlusconi and the Russian leader are known to be close, with the pair often visiting each other in their respective home countries.

In one memorable outing in Russian Federation from two years ago, the powerful men were seen wearing matching oversized fur hats.

But according to Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov, it wasn’t a serious offer, just a “figurative” gesture of support between bros: “They are in touch, and we’re talking really friendly relations”.

“In this case…it should be seen as figurative support rather than a formal offer to take some official post, which, of course, is impossible”, he was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.

Mr Berlusconi stood down from power in Italy in 2011 following a series of trials.

In March, Italy’s highest court upheld his acquittal on charges that he paid for sex with an under-age dancer and then used his influence to cover it up, amid the notorious Bunga Bunga scandal.

The controversial Berlusconi has been hit by a string of legal woes, most recently being sentenced to three years this month for bribing a senator.

He had just completed a community service order for tax fraud and analysts said it could pave the way for the 78-year-old to return to Italian politics.