Milan owner Gerry Cardinale is flying back to Italy to watch the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Tottenham and carry several projects forward, including Rafael Leao’s contract extension and a new stadium for the Rossoneri.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports Cardinale will be in the stands at San Siro to watch Milan’s first Champions League knock-out game in almost ten years. On February 14, the Serie A giants will host Antonio Conte’s Tottenham at the Stadio Meazza. The last time they played a knock-out round in the competition was in 2014 against Atletico Madrid with Clarence Seedorf in charge.
Cardinale will also discuss several issues with Milan directors in the coming days, starting from Rafael Leao’s contract extension.
According to Gazzetta, the Rossoneri have offered €6.5m per year, while the Portuguese striker demands at least €7.5m. Sporting CP’s fine remains an issue and if Leao is sold this summer, Cardinale expects to get at least €100m.
The club owner will also discuss future transfer strategies, given that the €50m budget available last summer was not enough to strengthen the team. Milan’s big signing Charles De Ketelaere has failed to justify his €32m price tag with no goals in 25 appearances, but Sergino Dest, Divock Origi, Yacine Adli and Aster Vranckx have not been up to the task as well.
Last but not least, Cardinale will get the latest updates on the stadium’s project. The Rossoneri are working on three solutions: a new stadium at San Siro, Sesto San Giovanni or Rozzano. President Paolo Scaroni has recently claimed that Milan are ready to build their own new stadium without Inter should they drop the San Siro project.