Scandal-hit Monte Paschi must raise 2.5 billion euros (2.09 billion pounds) in fresh capital by the end of 2014 to win European Commission approval for a 4.1 billion euro state bailout it received earlier this year.

"My chief aim is for the bank to be well managed. To be bought by somebody else is not a problem," Profumo said at a Financial Times conference.

"We have a size (that would allow us) to remain independent. Whoever wants to buy the bank is welcome, though I don't think anyone will take 100 percent."

Profumo said the capital increase was feasible.

(Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni, writing by Valentina Za, editing by Isla Binnie)