Yesterday marked the deadline for submitting proposals to join NBA Europe, and both RedBird, owner of AC Milan, and Oaktree, owner of Inter Milan, have submitted their bids.
A new Milan-Inter showdown on the horizon:
This sets the stage for a potential new derby between the two Milan-based clubs. However, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, there is a major difference between the two proposed projects: in RedBird’s plan, the Rossoneri brand would be central, whereas Oaktree’s move is not tied to the Inter brand.
Possible plans from RedBird and Oaktree:
The Nerazzurri’s ownership fund, reports the newspaper, has been in contact for some time with Olimpia Milano, which had also previously been approached for a minority stake in the club. However, Olimpia has not submitted a bid, as it is tied to the EuroLeague until 2036.
In the absence of an agreement with Olimpia, Gerry Cardinale would need another existing club to take part in Serie A. At present, the most likely option appears to be Pallacanestro Varese, given the strong relationship between the RedBird chairman and Luis Scola, CEO and majority shareholder of the Varese franchise.
