AC Milan's owner, Gerry Cardinale, confirmed that he has decided to end the summer season in red, explaining the club's motivations and future plans. In an interview with ClassCNBC, Cardinale underlined how the choice was dictated by the need to restructure the organization and prepare the club to compete at a European level, paying particular attention to the new stadium.
Cardinale began talking about the infrastructure renovation project: "The journey is long, but for four years we have been working on a plan that aims to transform the live experience, the relationship with the fans and the facilities for the players." He recalled that, while respecting the tradition of the San Siro, the objective is to make the stadium a true tribute to the history of the club, but at the same time modern and competitive. “The new facility must evolve together with the culture of the club,” he added, highlighting the importance of an updated ecosystem to keep up with the times.
Regarding the financial situation, Cardinale declared that he maintained control over the economic health of the club, even after the injection of 50 million equity. “I decided to end the summer in red because, after the elimination from the Champions League, I understood that it was time for a real change,” he explained. He then illustrated how he has restructured the sports area, keeping some key players, bringing in new talent and lowering the average age of the squad. “The hiring market has been inflated, but we have to accept these dynamics if we want to compete,” he said. Cardinale also stated that despite the 50 million loss, the club will quickly return to budgetary parameters thanks to more efficient management of transfer operations and a more solid commercial plan.
The owner then spoke about his role in choosing and purchasing players. “If they would have told me a year ago that I would be spending time watching videos and interfacing with scouts, I would have been surprised,” he said. He explained that his corporate experience has allowed him to build high-level people-based organizations and manage economic evaluations effectively. “Football is an art and a science, and now I have climbed that learning curve,” he added, underlining the importance of having a solid and ever-evolving structure.
Finally, Cardinale shared the lessons learned so far. If he could start over, he would have dedicated more time to the sporting side from day one, while maintaining focus on the new stadium and commercial development. “The time spent this summer personally managing the club allowed me to understand exactly which figures to include in the new technical structure,” he concluded. With these changes, Milan aims to return to the top of Serie A and the European elite, with a clear vision of sustainable growth and long-term competitiveness.