AC Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani has spoken about the possibility of Zlatan Ibrahimovic returning to the club, while also setting a target date for the new stadium in San Donato.
Furlani took up the role of CEO after Ivan Gazidis announced his departure last year and he has certainly been busy in his first 12 months on the job, overseeing a number of significant changes.
For example, he sanctioned the club-record sale of Sandro Tonali before the Rossoneri then made 10 summer signings, while also signing various sponsorship and partnership deals to push the club forward commercially.
Furlani did an interview this morning with Radio Serie A in which he spoke about a number of topics from the midweek win to the Growth Decree and Ibrahimovic’s possible return, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
How important is the victory against PSG?
“We try not to get too excited about victories and not get depressed about defeats, what matters is the medium-long term project. There is unity of intent among everyone.
“Winning in the Champions League is pleasant and important: I hope it draws a line. One victory against the richest team in Europe and one of the strongest makes us particularly happy.”
Is the Growth Decree useful?
“In recent years we have seen how Italian football is recovering competitiveness, in a context in which there are various unwritten rules that make us less competitive such as the impossibility of having stadiums or difficulties with contracts.
“The Growth decree is the only rule which helps us, because it allows us to attract talent that, in fact, as Italian teams we could not afford. Furthermore, at the level of the country’s economy, it seems madness to me to go against the Growth Decree.
“Having talent and advancing in Europe means having a greater share in global television rights, increasing sponsors and so on. Declining hundreds of millions of euros entering the country seems madness to me.
“The big clubs are looking at new stadiums: the country needs them and they would be financed entirely by capital from abroad.”
What is the situation with the new stadium?
“We are making progress on the project in San Donato. The target for us is to be ready at the end of 2028 with a new stadium. I say this date biting my tongue, because in 2018, when I joined Milan, we presented a project to the UEFA on the new San Siro to be completed by 2023. And now we are here.
“The target is the end of 2028. Having a new and owned stadium allows teams to bring fans not only for the match, but also for half a day spent with the family in the home of Milan.”
Could the new Champions League format useful?
“The new format allows us to play more matches in Europe: they are high-value matches. We would offer our fans more matches against top European clubs. There will be a positive economic impact, the value of the competition will grow as will the teams that participate in it.
“I want to hope that Italian football, if it continues with this positive trend, will be able to have a fifth team in the Champions League.”
What will happen with Ibrahimovic?
“Ibra, first of all, was a great footballer and is also a great entertainer, he is a leader, an all-round character, not only in the world of football. There are conversations with him.
“I won’t answer you technically because you don’t I can’t give an exact timing or even a role, but it can only please a person as, in my role and as a Milan fan, being able to work with Ibrahimovic again.”
Growth decree allow you to bring talent from abroad, they are just average players like Chukuweze – Reindjers – Musah, you ré wrong instead in your case it prevents to bring any italian talents at Ac Milan,
First, Musah is Italian. Born in NYC yes, but raised outside of Venice. He has an Italian passport and considers himself an Italian first. Chukuweze I don’t fancy, but maybe he can prove me wrong. Reidjers is quite good, and a bargain. Name me one Italian midfielder better who you could honestly expect to sign for so little. Did you also complain when Silvio brought in van Basten, Gullit, and Rijkaard?
Stop looking to sign Italian players, look to sign talented ones. Nationality doesn’t win games.