Silvio Berlusconi has released a statement denying reports he was prepared to sell Monza on the verge of promotion to Serie A for a return to Milan.
The rumours emerged on the eve of the Serie B promotion play-off, which sees Monza take on Pisa in the head-to-head for a place in the top flight.
Monza won the first leg 2-1 and the decider is on Sunday evening.
“The story of selling Monza to acquire a quota of Milan shares is completely without foundation,” wrote Berlusconi on social media.
“Monza is not for sale. Now we need the utmost concentration for Sunday’s final.”
The rumour had suggested Berlusconi was prepared to sell Monza in order to return to Milan with a minority share.
He had been the patron of the club for over 30 years, from February 1986 until the sale to Yonghong Li in April 2017.
During that period, Berlusconi took Milan to the top of the world, winning three Intercontinental Cups, five European Cups/Champions Leagues, eight Serie A titles, six Italian Supercups and the Coppa Italia.
He would have to sell Monza in order to purchase a minority share of Milan, because the rules in Italy forbid one person from owning more than one club in the same division.
Berlusconi has recreated something of the Milan hierarchy at Monza, bringing along his former CEO Adriano Galliani.
Milan are in the process of selling the club to RedBird, but Elliott Management could remain as minority shareholders.
La notizia della vendita del Monza per l’acquisto di una quota del Milan è destituita di fondamento. Il Monza non è in vendita. Adesso c’è bisogno della massima concentrazione per la finalissima di domenica sera. https://t.co/vwOcoE5eEm
— Silvio Berlusconi (@berlusconi) May 27, 2022
7 EC / CL not 5
Not since Silvio was in charge. They are talking about that specific period.1 986-2017
It is 5 under berlusconi era and 7 overall.
Well Monza need to gain promotion first before Berlusconi would have to consider selling.
I am suspecting this was trying to destabilize Monza and no actual merit to this story.
As a politician he had many faults (and was quasi criminal) but as a football club owner he was tremendously succesful.
Monza to Champion League would be a perfect culmination of Berlu Galli geniouses.
(´ ∀ ` *)