Milan President Paolo Scaroni insists they spent on the transfer market while ‘keeping economic sustainability in mind’ and remain hopeful the new stadium project can go ahead.
The club spent more money than any other in Serie A on the transfer market this summer, signing 11 new players, including Olivier Giroud, Alessandro Florenzi and Tiemoue Bakayoko.
“Milan were very active on the market to the satisfaction of Milan fans, but it was all done keeping economic sustainability in mind,” Scaroni told TG3.
“We made sure the accounts were in order. There’s no doubt that Serie A is holding back compared to the Premier League, so when I read fans saying Italian teams are weakened by seeing their best players bought by foreign clubs, they have a point.”
The issue of finances and revenue again brings Scaroni back to the on-going battle by Serie A clubs with local authorities, desperately trying to get permission to invest in new stadiums, or at least the chance to revamp ageing structures.
That is compounded by the current COVID restrictions, as in Italy the open-air stadiums are allowed only at 50 per cent capacity.
“There is an economic impact and I don’t understand why in England the stadiums are 100 per cent capacity, whereas in Italy it’s 50 per cent. I was in Klagenfurt to watch Milan play Real Madrid in a friendly and the stadium was packed, without the need for a mask.
“Another issue of course is that we need new, modern infrastructure in Italy. All of the Italian clubs must do what they did in the rest of Europe 10-15 years ago, in other words build new stadiums that allow more revenue.”
Inter and Milan are hoping to combine forces to help build a new shared arena to replace San Siro, but the project remains mired in red tape.
“Milan are absolutely ready and I received reassurances from Mayor Sala that, with the modifications we made to the original plan, the project can get the go-ahead,” added Scaroni.
“The Milan-Inter stadium is our project along with the city of Milan.”
I agree with him about almost everything. But San Siro deserves to be done up rather than flattened. Like the S Bernabue + Old Trafford! I understand, it’s simpler + more cost effective to start from scratch. But with a bit of extra care/money + with today’s technology, then it could be rejuvenated. The facilities could be improved + there’s tons of space around 3/4 of it for modern, ‘amusement’ add-ons? And do they even use the Hippodrome any more?
Anyhow, they will not get an arena with the same history + with a better, more intimidating design + atmosphere. Or which has the same “magic!” So to replace it with a generic design, with big spaces between the seats + gently, sloping tiers with vast open gaps, seem’s like another case of backward progress to me! It would dilute the atmosphere that’s for sure! It’s for the money men + I can only assume it’s been downgraded to 60,000 so as to price tickets higher + at a more competitive rate? Are you telling me that a decent Inter + AC, who’re regularly challenging for the UCL places + competing in it, wouldn’t be attracting more than 60,000 numerous times? Balderdash! Where’s the ambition they keep going on about?