Paolo Scaroni spoke to Rete 4 about the new stadium project in Milan, touching on familiar themes and some new points.
Below are all his statements, as relayed via Milan Press:
On why building a new stadium is important:
"First of all, it’s important because Milan deserves a stadium on par with Europe’s top clubs. Milano, Milan and Inter need it. We want to offer the best spectacle in Europe. I’ve been working on this project for six years, and we’ve finally made it. They say good things take time, and this is a good thing. I’m glad I used my time for it."
On the investigation for alleged bid rigging:
"I’m not particularly worried, because there was no bidding process. The City of Milan, by its own choice, decided to use a procedure within the stadium law that involves an expression of interest, so there was no competition and therefore no irregularity. I think this is a last attempt by opponents who have been fighting for years to stop us from reaching this goal, which is essential for Milan, Inter, and the city. Together with RedBird, which invests in sports, we’re in a strong position to build something good and sustainable."
On criticism about the private investment, Scaroni added:
"I see a certain prejudice from some people. We’re investing over one billion euros, entirely private money, with no public funding. It’s something positive, something to be proud of. We’ll build the new stadium next to the Meazza, which we’ll continue to use until 2030. When the new one is ready, which must happen by 2032 since UEFA declared San Siro unsuitable for the Euros, we’ll turn the old site into a sports area."
On the stadium area, Scaroni said:
"I think the current area is either too empty or too crowded. We have a different idea, an area that’s always alive, like those of Europe’s top clubs. At Real Madrid’s stadium, for example, there are seven restaurants that operate year-round. Could that have been done at the Meazza? We decided not to carry out the renovation for two reasons: the first is that we would not have been able to make the most beautiful stadium in Europe, the second is that it is impossible to renovate a stadium where matches are played every three days because there are no nearby stadiums in Milan where we could play in the meantime. For this reason, we decided to make a much larger investment and build a new stadium."
On whether he’s confident it will be completed by 2032:
"I believe we’ll manage it, I’m absolutely sure. We’ll soon start the design phase, then construction. I think by 2030 we’ll have a functional stadium."
On whether it’s a symbol of Milano or a project for all of Italy, Scaroni commented:
"For me, it’s a symbol of Milano. But I believe Milano can be a driving force, an example. Milano needs a new stadium, and so does the rest of Italy. We’ve fallen 20 years behind in sports investments and must catch up. Looking at the last European Championship, it’s clear we need investment everywhere. I hope Milano will serve as an example."
