London, Aug 23 (ANI): Silvio Berlusconi’s entourage members are urging him to seek treatment for his sex addiction, it has emerged.

Since attending the 18th birthday party of Noemi Letizia, an aspiring model, in April, the 72-year-old billionaire’s personal life has become the focus of a long-running scandal.

After the birthday news broke, the Italian PM’s wife, Veronica Lario, 53, demanded a divorce, reports The Times.

Also, Patrizia D’Addario, a Bari prostitute, has claimed that she spent a night at Berlusconi’s Rome residence last November - which he has denied.

Now, Veronica Trend, an updated biography of Lario, is about to be published. In the explosive tome, Lario, the former actress, tells her side of the story. It is based on interviews with the prime minister’s wife of 19 years.

The book’s author, Maria Latella, writes that a few members of Berlusconi’s inner circle are calling for the couple to separate formally, but then for Lario to “return to her husband’s side to help him find himself again … also with a stay in one of those clinics specialising in curing sex dependence”.

“This scenario hasn’t been completely ruled out, and much will depend on how much the press - above all overseas - will continue to be fascinated by Berlusconi’s private life,” she writes.

Latella, however, has not made it clear whether those backing this idea include Lario or any of the Berlusconi’s three children: Barbara, Eleonora and Luigi.

As per a source, the clinic suggestion had been floated for the first time shortly before Berlusconi presided over the G8 summit at L’Aquila in July. (ANI)