Adriano Galliani insists his move to Monza is not a betrayal as ‘I started there and was loaned to Milan for 31 years’.
Galliani was Milan’s CEO between 1986 and 2017 and left when Silvio Berlusconi sold up, but the 74-year-old was born in Monza and was a shareholder in the Serie C club before he joined forces with the media tycoon.
“For me it’s a joyous day,” he told reporters on the same day that Berlusconi’s takeover went through.
Adriano Galliani insists his move to Monza is not a betrayal as ‘I started there and was loaned to Milan for 31 years’.
Galliani was Milan’s CEO between 1986 and 2017 and left when Silvio Berlusconi sold up, but the 74-year-old was born in Monza and was a shareholder in the Serie C club before he joined forces with the media tycoon.
“For me it’s a joyous day,” he told reporters on the same day that Berlusconi’s takeover went through.
“Thanks to Silvio Berlusconi, I return to my team of my heart and city. In September 1975, I became a shareholder in Monza thanks to Aurelio Cazzaniga and I found Felice Colombo as vice-President. They were a nice group of businessmen from Brianza.
“Monza form part of my life and they’ve shaped my whole life. I met Berlusconi on November 1, 1979.
“He invited me to dinner and asked me if I can build three TV networks with Elettronica Industriale.
“I gave him my word, but one one condition – that I could still follow Monza home and away.
“Berlusconi looked at me as if I was crazy and said ‘okay’. I was at Monza for 10 years, until December 31, 1985.
“That’s when I resigned from Monza and moved to Milan with Berlusconi in February 1986 until April 2017, when we sold the club.
“On the day of their promotion from Serie D to Lega Pro, I immediately called Nicola Colombo.
“Monza isn’t me betraying Milan, precisely because I started at Monza and went to Milan on loan for 31 years.
“My life without Berlusconi would’ve been different and certainly less pleasant.”