Ivan Gazidis hopes Milan will have the financial strength to keep world-class players such as Theo Hernandez at the club and believes Juventus‘ domination of Serie A during the last decade was ‘not healthy for the league.’
The 57-year-old released an interview with economic newspaper Forbes highlighting the importance of building new stadiums in Italy. Inter and Milan expect to have a new stadium in time for the 2026-27 campaign. It will be called ‘The Cathedral’ and the project was approved at the end of 2021.
“Football in Italy is such an important part of the fabric of the country,” said Gazidis.
“And I think one of the sad things over the last couple of decades has been the slow and steady decline of Italian football, in comparison with the other European leagues.
“This is a necessary step. If we don’t build stadiums in Italy, we know what the future will be. We know what we’re handing to our children. And the inheritance that they will have is a league that continues to be on a long, slow, steady decline. That’s not a future that is a responsible one to hand to the next generation.
“I don’t believe that is the future of Italian football. I think Italian football is absolutely ready for revitalization.”
It’s probable no coincidence that Juventus’ domination of Serie A over the last decade began after their new stadium was inaugurated in 2011. However, Gazidis believes that the Old Lady’s domestic victories during the last ten years are not good for Serie A.
“It’s transformational for the two football clubs, Milan and Inter, in their journey to be back at the top of European football,” he said.
“And it’s transformational, actually, for Italian football because we’ve had a decade which has been dominated by Juventus in their new stadium. That’s not healthy for a league that needs to grow its global appeal.”
Following their 1-0 win over Sampdoria yesterday, Milan are on top of the Serie A table with a one-point lead over city rivals Inter who have a game in hand.
Theo Hernandez, one of their most important assets, extended his contract with the Rossoneri on Friday.
“Theo’s a great example of somebody we consider to be a world-class talent that we brought in and helped to develop with us. So he has grown with us,” Gazidis said.
“I would still say we are a work in progress. We are still progressing towards where we want to be. But we’re clearly on the right path.
“And the foundation of that is young players that develop with Milan into world-class talents which then raise the level of the team, which then increases our revenues, which enables us to invest more into the team to be able to retain them.”
Interview with AC Milan CEO Ivan Gazidis for @ForbesSports.
– how Milan and Inter's new stadium can "transform" Italian football
– why the Premier League "is the super league"
– Theo Hernández deal and the future strategy https://t.co/SsNNpJySvM
— Robert Kidd (@Rob_Kidd1) February 14, 2022
“It’s probable no coincidence that Juventus’ domination of Serie A over the last decade began after their new stadium was inaugurated in 2011. However, Gazidis believes that the Old Lady’s domestic victories during the last ten years are not good for Serie A.”
Seriously? Are they suppose to lose?
@Karrar Really? That’s what you get from what he said?