Monza CEO Adriano Galliani recounted why Silvio Berlusconi bought the club and his lofty ambitions for the team ahead of their Serie A clash with Milan.
The pair spent 31 years working together at the Rossoneri from 1986 to 2017, taking them to the upper echelons of European football and guiding them to 29 trophies.
After just a year away from football, Berlusconi purchased Serie C side Monza, appointing Galliani to be the club’s new CEO. The pair built up Monza and guided them to their first ever campaign in Serie A this season following last year’s play-off win over Pisa.
Speaking to Sky Sports Italia, Galliani first discussed Berlusconi’s Scudetto ambitions with Monza.
“The president is free to think and dream. When I met him in 1979, he taught me that you have to think big. This has helped me in life.
“If you think about the Scudetto, maybe you avoid relegation, if you think about avoiding relegation, maybe you drop down. You have to have high goals.”
He looked ahead to the upcoming game between Monza and Milan, the first time the Rossoneri will visit the Stadio Brianteo in an official match.
“The president will come. I was at lunch with him, on Saturday he promised he will be there. The president, like me, when he talks about Milan he keeps saying ‘us’.
“It will be us against us. I’ll stay in religious silence, without moving a muscle if Monza or Milan score, as happened in the first leg. I’m training.”
Galliani reflected on Berlusconi’s decision to purchase Monza in 2018 and how it came about.
“It was one of the traditional Tuesday lunches, I told the president that Monza was for sale. He said nothing, I didn’t add anything else.
“We sat at the table with his family and the top executives of the Fininvest group, and he said: ‘I heard from Adriano that Monza is for sale’. I was silent because I didn’t want to push.
“Everyone said yes, Silvio Berlusconi then said to me: ‘Go and do it’. I immediately abandoned the plate of spaghetti, talked to Felice Colombo and his son and we agreed with a handshake as friends.
“Punctually we respected, both us and the Colombo family, everything we said to each other.”
The Monza CEO commented on his enduring love for both clubs.
“My football life is Milan-Monza, nothing else could have happened. My last professional club could only be Monza.
“I couldn’t betray Milan after 31 years, I couldn’t have gone to another club. Here I am at home, there has not been a single Milan fan who has accused me of betrayal.”
He gave his thoughts on Italian football in general.
“English teams make three or four times more than Italian teams, which was not the case before. It will be difficult for Italian football to go back to being the best in Europe as it was in the 1990s.
“While once upon a time the Ballon d’Or candidates all played in Italy, the last Ballon d’Or won by a footballer playing in Serie A was Riccardino Kaka in 2007.
“So, years have passed. For Italian teams, I no longer see the possibility of acquiring a potential Ballon d’Or player.”
He looked back at Monza’s visit to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza to face Milan earlier this season, a game they lost 4-1.
“I had my heart torn in half. Monza are the team of the city where I was born, but the 31 years of Milan cannot be erased.
“Whether the theatre is San Siro or the U Power Stadium it doesn’t change, it’s a dream. Used to playing derbies with Seregno and Renate… now it’s incredible.”
Finally, Galliani spoke about his dreams in the world of football.
“The dream came true last year. I support three teams: Milan, Monza and Armani. Last season Milan and Armani won the Scudetto and Monza was promoted to Serie A. Let’s hope that 2023 will be similar to 2022.”