AC Milan CEO Ivan Gazidis, has granted an interview to the microphones of La Repubblica to talk about the Rossoneri club, the closing with RedBird and more. Here are his words:
"We inherited a club with disappointing sports performance and severe financial difficulties. We made radical choices, we rebuilt the club from its foundations and brought it back to being competitive, in Italy and soon also in Europe. More important than strategy is the way things are done. We have chosen to hire young players and make them grow within the club. We decided to focus on a more physical, aggressive, fast, one-on-one "style of football". For this we needed an innovative technical staff, very focused on the objectives, courageous and able to withstand the pressures."
Gazidis continued:
"When I arrived there was no AC Milan app: digitization and the production of content are very important to keep together a community that begins in Italy and ends in Australia. When I arrived, two thirds of the club partners were Italian, today two thirds are international. The value of business partnerships has multiplied. All proceeds are invested in the club. It is a virtuous circle."
On RedBird Capital Partners:
"RedBird have great skills in the sports business and a high international reputation. The message they transmitted to us is the will to continue on the path of our management. Elliott has great faith in the value and expertise that Redbird can bring to the club, with the shared goal of bringing AC Milan back to the top of European football."
On when should we expect the closing between RedBird and Elliott:
"The Seller and the buyer have said that the closing is scheduled for September and I see no elements that could change the timing."
On the stadium:
"I am optimistic about the possibility of reaching the approval of the final project of a modern stadium, capable of welcoming families, women, children and generating new revenues. It is a lintel of our project. Having Milan's own stadium? It is the dream of many fans, but we must deal with the reality of a prohibitive investment for the financial equilibrium of a single club."
Gazidis on his future:
"The right time to discuss this with the new owner will be after closing."
On AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli:
"He has great understanding of modern football, great human qualities, total focus on work, without a complaint or controversy. Rangnick? I told Pioli: there will be a thousand rumours and speculations, but what happens at the end of the year will depend only on your performances. Pioli listened to me, the results arrived and his confirmation came naturally."
Gazidis on Paolo Maldini:
"I don't think words are needed to describe the cultural and managerial value that Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara - in particular the combination of the two - have brought to Milan. I hired Maldini not once, but two or three times, including the last renewal on which I expressed a favourable opinion to the new ownership."
