In a new twist, ‘Mr Bee’ Taechaubol claims he’s ready to buy 48 per cent of Milan and provide €100m “every year for transfers.”
President Silvio Berlusconi confirms he has decided to sell the club to Chinese investors and the paperwork is expected to be signed by July 15.
Thai businessman Mr Bee had shaken hands with Berlusconi in 2014 for a deal to sell 48 per cent of the club, but backed out when his investors disappeared.
On the eve of the new sale, he has suddenly reappeared in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
In a new twist, ‘Mr Bee’ Taechaubol claims he’s ready to buy 48 per cent of Milan and provide €100m “every year for transfers.”
President Silvio Berlusconi confirms he has decided to sell the club to Chinese investors and the paperwork is expected to be signed by July 15.
Thai businessman Mr Bee had shaken hands with Berlusconi in 2014 for a deal to sell 48 per cent of the club, but backed out when his investors disappeared.
On the eve of the new sale, he has suddenly reappeared in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“In all honesty, I never disappeared from these negotiations,” insisted Taechaubol.
“Naturally, since the other consortium signed an exclusivity deal with Fininvest, I remained respectfully in the background, but from December 2014 my efforts to secure an agreement to buy part of AC Milan were never interrupted. And now, a few days from the end of this exclusivity agreement, I want Milan fans to know there is another possibility.
“Berlusconi can keep Milan and remain at the helm. There are groups and people who are strongly interested in helping me reach this agreement.
“The investors who supported me originally backed out, so I had to find other partners and that was not easy due to the crisis in the Asian markets, but now they are here, they are very solid and ready to invest.
“This is my offer: buy 48 per cent of the club, immediate transfer kitty of €100m for this session and at least another €100m every year.
“I’d also float the club on the stock exchange within two years, as all big clubs are. I am so convinced that Milan should remain under the ownership of Berlusconi that I’m prepared to put at his disposal my commercial work in Asia even if he doesn’t sell to anybody.”
While the Chinese group in talks to buy Milan remain shrouded in secrecy, Mr Bee lifted the lid on his backers.
“My investors are ZHJ Capital and Parantoux Capital, Chinese groups made up of big bankers and investors who work closely with the Chinese Minister of Finance.
“When they found out Berlusconi was ready to sell the majority, they contacted me to say they were prepared to provide the capital for a new offer, even if it meant buying the minority share.
“I think this would be the best solution for Milan.”