The Milan derby is no longer just a football challenge, but a comparison between two ownership models with similar roots but decidedly different approaches. Gerry Cardinale, the new owner of Milan, intensified his role as "owner-operator" on the eve of the match against Inter, recognizing the strengths of the Nerazzurri club but declaring that the Devil can overcome his rivals. His presence is now central: interviews, comments on the market and strategic decisions are made directly by him, while the RedBird structure has evolved from a simple investor to a real public face of the club.
RedBird acquired Milan in 2022. Since then the founder has become the most visible figure in the ownership, taking an active role in day-to-day management. Cardinale has already intervened in the reorganization of the club, chose the coach RubenAmorim and announced the arrival of a new sporting director. Furthermore, the appointment of MassimoCalvelli as CEO strengthens the direct link between the company and the owners, confirming the "owner-operator" approach that Cardinale has promoted since the beginning.
On the contrary, Inter came under the control of Oaktree in May 2024, after the failure to repay a loan to StevenZhang's holding company. Oaktree, part of Brookfield's credit platform, has adopted a more indirect communications strategy. The board of directors is present, but strategic decisions are rarely communicated by a single spokesperson. While AlejandroCano has made brief appearances upon taking office, the closest figure to the club is KatherineRalph. The public face of Inter remains Giuseppe Marotta, president and CEO, who in 2025 will also become a shareholder with a share of almost 2%. Oaktree therefore prefers to communicate through the corporate structure and its managers, avoiding building media centrality around a single person.
The two owners share the objective of sustainability and growth of the club's value, as well as the commitment to the project of the new SanSiro stadium. However, their operational philosophies remain distinct: Cardinale wants to be an active protagonist of Milan, intervening directly in sporting and administrative decisions, while Oaktree prefers that the main voice of Inter is the club itself, with a more structured communication and less focused on a single spokesperson. With the Milan derby scheduled, the comparison between these two visions of ownership will become even more evident, offering fans a new level of interest beyond football.