CM: Object of desire to opponent – the background on Commisso’s attempt to buy Milan

By Oliver Fisher -

Tonight’s match between Fiorentina and AC Milan has a number of interesting sub-plots, and Rocco Commisso’s words are certainly among them.

Calciomercato.com recall what the Fiorentina owner said a few days ago: “Milan announced a few days ago that they had collected 9 million from the Champions League match against Tottenham, we get to 8 million in a year, how do we compete with certain clubs?”

The president of Fiorentina is known for his rather explosive comments in the media, and in his latest outburst Commisso chose to underline the impossibility of being able to compete at the highest levels of the Italian league, unless revenues start to increase. However, he could have been in a very different position.

Back in the summer of 2018 Commisso had begun to probe the ground to buy Milan who had not yet passed into the hands of Elliott Management following the breach of obligations towards the American fund by previous owner Yonghong Li.

“The negotiations for the purchase of Milan continue, despite the communication difficulties. I close the contract. But let’s be clear, I need to have a binding agreement first,” Commisso said.

“I would never accept being a minority shareholder. The club must be mine because I believe I can manage it and make it return to its full glory. Milan are Milan, with a tradition that not all Italian or world clubs can boast.”

However, things never materialised. At the end of June, there were no longer the right conditions for acquiring Milan as Yonghong Li was not willing to close the deal in a timely manner, so the story between Commisso and Milan ended even before it began.

The following year he became president of Fiorentina and the American entrepreneur’s adventure in Italian football began, and tonight he welcomes Milan as an opponent.

Tags AC Milan Rocco Commisso
Serie A Standings

Live football scores . Current table, fixtures & results.