Berlusconi later said the remark was meant to be "cute" and called those who disagreed "imbeciles, of which there are too many."
Well, it sure takes one to recognize one, Silvio.
But in truth, he's just jealous - he sure has spent much time and effort on trying to look fit, young and tanned himself. To dubious effect.
Berlusconi is as prone to gaffes as GW Bush, but his statements often seem malicious where Bush just blunders haplessly about in a semantic fog.
The worst one ever was that one public comment to the face of a German about fitting as a Nazi Concentration Camp Guard. That was so inappropriate, it was inexcusable.
(I'm not at all a fan of Berlusconi, does it show?
)