February 14 – AC Milan supremo Silvio Berlusconi has again hinted strongly that the iconic Italian club could be sold to outside investors as a result of the economic climate.
The seven-time European champions have been owned since 1986 by the former Italian Prime Minister who, despite being constantly linked with one scandal or another, has remained loyal to his boyhood club and at one point saved them from bankruptcy.
Berlusconi would ideally like to keep Milan within his family but now admits rising costs and Italy’s prolonged economic crisis may result in having to sell.
“Foreign money in Milan? Only if I’m forced to do so,” he told the ANSA news agency. “But I want there to be conditions to such a thing. I still remember when my father took me to the stadium and I did not have to pay for a ticket because I was so small.
“For me, Milan is in my heart. Over the years we’ve spent more and more money, perhaps too much. But this has allowed Milan to become the most successful team in the world.”
The likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United may disagree with that last sentiment but Berlusconi is renowned for speaking his mind.
“The club is a part of my family…. and I’d like to keep it that way. However, this does not mean that I’d instantly dismiss the idea of foreign investment,” he said. “If the economic crisis continues, things may have to change.”
The idea of Milan ending up in the hands of mega-rich foreign owners as seen at Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain would be anathema to fans of the Rossoneri but the Berlusconi family have apparently been thinking about selling for some time now, with Russian or Middle East money among the possible outcomes.
To ease their financial problems, Milan sold Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Paris Saint-Germain last summer but have recently staged something of a renaissance on the pitch after a bad start, culminating in the signing of Mario Balotelli from Manchester City for a reported €20 million.
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