CF: How financially damaging it would be for Milan to miss out on the Champions League

By Oliver Fisher -

Missing out on the next edition of the Champions League would not just be damaging for the optic of AC Milan’s project, but it would also be a big economic blow.

Milan are seriously hindering themselves the race for the top four as they continue to drop points in the league, and now there is a real risk that after two seasons in Europe’s top club competition they will have to return to the Europa League.

It seems that only a possible new punishment given to Juventus can throw the Rossoneri back into the fray of qualification, unless they were to beat them in the upcoming head to head clash and other sides drop points.

How much is at risk? Calcio e Finanza (via SempreMilan.it) writes that UEFA prize money guaranteed by the Champions League (participation bonus, historical ranking and market pool) stands at a minimum of €36m.

This is the lowest possible figure, which considers the worst possible scenario: the lowest possible position in the historical ranking, six defeats in the group stage and the other Italian teams going far in the tournament.

That is a difficult hypothesis, to imagine, so a look at the 2021-22 might be more accurate when Milan still collected over €45m. This year, with the run to the semi-final, the UCL will bring at least €85m.

Furthermore, these are figures that do not take into account stadium revenues, which thanks to the Champions League will give Milan a record figure with over €10m obtained in the semi-final first leg against Inter.

In short, if Milan aim to close 2022-23 accounts with a profit, the risk is that without the Champions League they will return to making a loss in 2023-24 and that the growth plans – even at a sporting level – slow down.

Three victories in the last three days of the championship therefore appear fundamental to avoid the worst damage, even if even in this case qualification is no longer in their hands.

Tags AC Milan

10 Comments

  1. Yes, because with top 4 we were going to spend €100 million. 🙄 It changes very little precisely because we got further than anyone could have dreamed.

  2. So we got the money this year that we would’ve gotten next year, big whoop lol, just fix the gaps in the team and we’ll be fine next season.

    Manager i dunno, if we can get Luis Enrique, that might work but he wasnt that good at Roma and with lower budgets

      1. You guys can’t be serious. You think those two managers will come to a team that does not splash cash. Even roma splash cash to attarct mourinho.

        1. Hoffenheim or Leipzig doesn’t splash, cash either.. While Bayern doesn’t make bank breaking transfers! Given that he, has done wonders in Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, with limited budget, I think he is the ideal candidate for this job.. Especially given that, Germans are known for nurturing young talents..

  3. De Zerbi is the right choice for Milan
    He has Seria A experience
    He has Milan experience
    He is an intelligent young manager with quality for the modern game
    He has passion for Rosso Neri and Italian football

  4. Considering this season’s run and the money we’ll get from the Europa league, it’s about the equivalent of getting knocked out in the UCL round of 16 this season and next, which is pretty realistic anyway. Plus, we could possibly win the Europa League which would be amazing!

    I’m putting last summer down to uncertainty over ownership and bad timing, but this year it’s time for RedBird to show us what this ‘project’ is. So we miss out on the UCL for one year…

    Clear out ALL the deadwood – Origi, Rebic, Messias, Florenzi for starters

    Sell either Tomori or Kalulu because Thiaw is better than both of them

    Sign youngsters and bring in a manager with a track record of playing and nurturing them

    A year of putting proper foundations in place won’t hurt.

    1. I’ll also say, whilst I’d love to see us sign a core of Italian players, I’d quite like to see a non-Italian manager, to get us off the merry-go-round and bring some new ideas into the league.

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