Giorgio Furlani, CEO of AC Milan, spoke in an interview in Spanish at the studios of Ahora o Nunca ESPN. Here are his words:
"How is Milan doing? Very good. Milan was going through years of crisis. We spent 7 years without being in the Champions League, and now it's been three years that we have been there, reaching the semifinals last year and winning the Scudetto two years ago. We have invested a lot in players, acquisitions, to try to have an even better season this year. So, I would say we are doing very well. I am very happy with the coach and the players, and I think we will have a very good season. As a fan, I am very happy, and I hope the fans will be as happy as I am."
Is it easy to be the CEO and a fan of Milan at the same time?
"It's easy to do this job with this passion. It's also easy to make rational decisions because, over the years, as a fan, I've seen what happens when things go wrong. So, I have a great responsibility in this position, and... we try to do it well."
How do you see AC Milan in the near and distant future?
"When I joined Milan, it was in crisis. We have a plan, a path, and a direction that I believe are very good. We want to be competitive in Italy and Europe, just like last year, and we want to continue like this. We have various improvement projects, and the main one is the new stadium. There has been talk for many years about Milan's new stadium, but I hope one day it will be ready, and I hope to come back soon to tell you that we have Milan's new stadium."
It was incredible for an outsider fan to see the EuroDerby... Is the idea to have your own stadium or share it with Inter?
"Milan and Inter have the stadium together, and it's an exception in the world for such big city rivals. Our plan is to have our own stadium that will match our club with the rest of Europe and the world", said Furlani.
What do you think about MLS and Saudi Arabia, and how does Milan position itself?
"These types of leagues are new content for the fans. There are funds that invest in sports, and this cannot be a negative thing for us because investing in the industry helps the sports industry to grow. There are new ideas that help us understand how to do things differently. I don't see anything negative about it."
How important is it for Milan to grow its fan base in the USA? Furlani said:
"Very important. The USA is very important for us. We have 16 fan clubs in North America, 13 of which are in the USA, and two in California. We want to grow. The sports market in America is the strongest in the world, and soccer is growing exponentially there. We are an Italian club with American ownership, Red Bird Capital Partners by Gerry Cardinale, and they have been in this world where sports, media, entertainment, and cultures meet for a long time. They help us a lot in overall development and, particularly, with our fan base in the USA. Their expertise and experience are crucial in the Club's global growth. What is being done in the USA for the 2026 World Cup is important from this perspective."
Will AC Milan ever have a Mexican player?
"Currently, we have an American player, Pulisic. Luka Romero has Mexican origins, and Tomori has Canadian origins."
