By Mark Baber
June 12 – A week into the eight week negotiating period for Mr Bee Taechaubol (known as “Mr Bee” in the Italian media) to take a 48% stake in AC Milan, what the deal will mean for one of Europe’s most illustrious clubs is unclear, with Mr Bee denouncing Italian press speculation as to his meddling in team affairs whilst the end for manager end of Filippo Inzaghi seems certain.
AC Milan finished in a dismal 10th place at the end of last season, having played many home games in front of half-empty stands with supporters aghast at what has happened to a club which, back in the day, used to be admired by football supporters the world over.
The statement on 6 June that Thai businessman Mr Bee Taechaubol and Finnvest, the Berlusconi company which owns AC Milan, had agreed an eight week negotiating period for Mr Bee to take a 48% minority stake in the club has met with a mixed reception.
The statement talked about the agreement having “as its objective the promotion and commercialisation of the AC Milan brand, in particular in Asian countries, in order to receive a large boost in revenue and consequently the financial resources needed to take, thanks to a decisive technical and sporting project, AC Milan back to competing with the established clubs in world football.”
However, it is obvious, with the Berlusconi empire very much on the back foot and Italy’s ex-Prime Minister facing numerous legal difficulties over business and personal affairs, that AC Milan requires much more than a boost in revenue from the Asian markets if it is to return to respectability, let alone former glories.
The end of Filippo Inzaghi’s brief reign as manager may be merited after a difficult season in which he appears to have lost the dressing room, but after Berlusconi appeared to blame the manager for the club’s woes the Curva Sud ultras group said in a statement “We once saw a Milan that honoured its legends. Now we see Milan use one of its greatest symbols to hide the rotten core behind it.”
Whilst yesterday’s signing of a new contract by Ignazio Abate until 2019 has got to be a promising sign for the future, Mr Bee has slammed Italian press reports that he has had any influence whatsoever in team affairs.
Mr Bee has been keen to show respect for Berlusconi’s role at the club telling Italian media that “It is not the end of the Berlusconi era.”
“Berlusconi is the man who made Milan great and will always remain tied to the club. It’s not true that he is no longer interested in the team. The troubled negotiation process proves the exact opposite.
“Milan have a fundamentally Italian soul and are a brand of Italian excellence. This must not change. It would be absurd to have a sky box full of Asian directors, as the club would lose its identity.
“The motto is not to change, but to add. Internationalise. The directors must be Italian. I don’t want to be the President, as I am an investor.”
Mr Bee’s previous forays into football, including the organisation of the Global Legends Series, indicate he is a genuine fan of the beautiful game and has a great respect for the game’s past heroes and traditions. He has also said he “could’ve bought three Premier League clubs, but never wanted anything other than Milan.”
So Mr Bee may well be the ideal investor for the Rossoneri going forward, but a lot depends on how much of the €500m cost of the deal goes into the Berlusconi’s pockets, and how much goes into the club to buy new players and build a new stadium.