...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...as it seeks to leave the bloc, saying otherwise it would be the EU which could come out having "swindled" the United Kingdom.
Salvini, a former member of the European Parliament, told the Sunday Times that the EU wanted to punish Britannia for seeking to leave the bloc, adding that London should have not trust in Brussels.
"My experience in the European parliament tells me you either impose yourself or they swindle you," he said, adding, "There is no objectivity or good faith from the European side."
Salvini have been at odds with the EU over how the bloc should deal with a protracted refugee crisis. He has ordered a closure of the Italian ports, saying the EU should force other members to accept their share of the refuge flow.
He and the populist Italian government have also expressed their willingness for a British-style exit from the EU, saying Italia would be better off while out of the bloc.
"I hope the negotiations end well for the UK to serve as an example of the people coming out on top of the EU," said Salvini, adding, "I remember the referendum stage as an example of participation and freedom; I hope it can be an opportunity for the British."