Fassone: “There could be a Mr. X for the attack, we want revenues to be €500m”

Marco Fassone, along with Massimiliano Mirabelli, has done a great job in rebuilding Milan as a team on and off the pitch, having secured ten signings already this transfer window.

Interviewed by La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Fassone spoke about the first hundred days of the new Chinese ownership.

“It’s not easy to do what we have done in a hundred days. In fact, I feel a little tired, working twenty hours a day, but I must say time has flown and I find myself very satisfied.”

On the transfer market: “Market? It’s not over yet, but it also depends on how many players we sell. We are not in rush. This is a very good team, but it’s just missing the icing. That will be an excellent, top-notch arrival.

“We believe all of our purchases were made at the correct prices. I would like to emphasise the new communication strategy, we have chosen to talk directly with the fans, via social media. I feel euphoria and passion. In the first four days of the ticket subscriptions, five thousand season tickets were sold.

“Montella? He has the great quality to always transfer serenity to everyone. We chose a revolutionary market strategy together, we could have been more cautious with the number of purchases. Kalinic, Belotti or Aubameyang? There may be another figure, a Mister X.”

On Milan’s future: “Elliott Fund? There are periodical checks on the club’s accounts, which will begin in November with a two-month period. Of course, the risks always exist in these cases, but the debt can easily be refinanced. I’ve never seen a capital increase like this before in a football club. This means that the owner believes in the project we have.  

“The Shareholders’ Meeting also deliberated a long-term capital increase and this is relaxing for managers and fans. Business objectives? There are so many potential fans. Milan China, our subsidiary, will start very shortly. In our five-year plan, we expect to move from the current €200m in revenues per year to be between €400-500m per year. Besides the stadium, we will focus on Champions League, tv rights and commercial revenues in China.

“Let’s say that in 2022, if we want to talk about goals, it would be great to have Milan among the top 5 top clubs in the world. In other news, next week we will announce a top-level sponsorship. Thanks to our project, companies have more focus on us. In 2018/19, Milan will most likely be listed on China’s stock market.”