Football Italia
·20 December 2024
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·20 December 2024
Milan President Paolo Scaroni says that the project to build a new stadium in San Siro is now the primary option for the club, so San Donato has become the ‘Plan B.’
Milan President Scaroni provided the latest updates on Milan’s new stadium.
It’s an important update from the Rossoneri chief, given that Scaroni confirmed the club’s priority is to build a new stadium alongside their city rivals Inter.
“The project we are working on today is the twin project of 2018. Six years have passed, and nothing happened,” Scaroni told Radio Serie A, as quoted by Calciomercato.com.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Paolo Scaroni, President of AC Milan looks on prior to the Serie A TIM match between AC Milan and AS Roma – Serie A TIM at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 14, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“San Siro is not iconic; Milan and Inter are iconic. Have you ever seen a modern stadium? The Milanese have realised that going to watch the game where they used to go with their grandpa and their father is beautiful but is no longer functional.”
It’s been reported that Milan and Inter will have to pay circa €200m to buy the San Siro area, including the Stadio Meazza, which Scaroni wants to demolish.
“The San Donato project has become plan B since the superintendence eliminated the bond on constructing a new stadium close to the Meazza, which must be demolished,” continued Scaroni.
“I thank the Mayor. A new process has started because the clubs must buy the stadium to obtain building permits. We must prepare a contract so that everything is perfectly running. The impact will be substantial, but I am optimistic.”
It remains to be seen what will happen with the San Donato project, given that Milan already invested over €40m to buy a piece of land in that area.
During his latest interview, Scaroni also spoke about Milan’s financial situation and urged the government to change the law to prohibit football clubs from earning revenues from betting.
“Sustainability is not a decision. It’s mandatory,” he said.
“If you are not sustainable, UEFA will penalise the team. It’s the starting point for a winning future. Through sustainability, we are those who have invested the most. We are here to win, and I am telling the fans to trust us because we are here to win every match.
“We are the only country in Europe that prohibits football-betting advertisements. The tax office gets €300m from betting every year; if we could get a small amount of it, the whole movement would benefit, clubs could buy more champions.”