February 20th is a day for celebrating Silvio Berlusconi’s time as AC Milan owner, and Adriano Galliani has revealed som brilliant anecdotes.
On this day in 1986, the Berlusconi era at Milan began. He took over a club on the brink of bankruptcy that had spent time in Serie B into the best team in the world during the 1990s. He remained for 31 years, until 2017, and during that time the club won a total of 29 trophies.
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The man at his side for the entirety of the journey was Galliani. He served as the CEO, helping to build some of those great sides in the 1990s and the 2000s. The pair were inseparable, so much so that they headed to their hometown team Monza after leaving Milan, getting them into Serie A.
Galliani was interviewed by Corriere della Sera and he recalled some of the memories that he has from the Berlusconi era, including his acquisition of the club and some of the famous nights. MilanNews24 published his comments.
How did the purchase of AC Milan come about?
“I continued my life between Monza and the creation of the Canale 5, Italia 1, and Rete 4 broadcast networks until the end of ’85.
“Since Milan had been relegated to Serie B, I had meanwhile invited the entire Fininvest group to Monza, including Paolo Berlusconi, Giancarlo Foscale and Fedele, to watch the matches against the Rossoneri.
“Then Christmas arrived. We went on vacation to St. Moritz, with Confalonieri and Marcello Dell’Utri also there. The president asked us what we thought of the possibility of buying Milan, and I, the only one with football experience, warned him.
“I said: ‘If we lose a lot of money with Monza in Serie B, imagine the costs for a Serie A team.’ He replied, ‘Adriano, AC Milan isn’t about business, but about feelings.'”
What do you remember about that day?
Everything: that same day, La Cinq premiered, and the president and I were in Paris. We toasted those two adventures at the restaurant on the Eiffel Tower. For the president, Milan was an act of love. He bought it without knowing how much debt the club was in.
“Besides, if Milan had gone bankrupt, they would have lost their title. I think of Silvio Berlusconi every morning when I wake up. Without him, even with the same directors, coaches, and champions, Milan would never have won 29 trophies in 31 years.
“I was lucky to be by his side: he was an extraordinary motivator. I walked into Arcore, and flew out, ready to plant antennas on Everest, not Montevecchia. If I had to compare him to a footballer, it would be Pelé.”
When was the ‘Great Milan’ truly born?
“July 1, 1987, because the previous season there was a coach, Liedholm, and two foreign players, Hateley and Wilkins, whom we hadn’t chosen. Berlusconi, by choosing Sacchi, who had never coached in Serie A, proved himself, as always, a visionary.
“Our adventure began when he gathered the employees at Pomerio Castle and entrusted them with the mission of making Milan the best team in the world. At the time, the league was dominated by two teams: Platini’s Juventus and Maradona’s Napoli.
“Berlusconi wanted to send a strong signal about his entry into the world of football, and when he asked me for advice, I replied, ‘We need to buy Atalanta’s best young player, Roberto Donadoni, and steal him from Juventus.’
“On Easter Eve 1986, the president and I went to Bergamo to watch an U21 match and met with president Bortolotti. On Easter Monday, he was hosted for dinner in Arcore and was convinced, for the first time ever, to break the iron bond that Atalanta had with Juve. With that move, we showed that we were also at the table.”
Which victory made Berlusconi most proud?
“Among his many victories, there’s one that Berlusconi remains most attached to: the night of the European Cup final against Steaua. Stars were shining from his eyes.
“I’ve never seen him so happy about any other achievement. The president was great in his four lives: construction, television, sports, and politics .”
RIP Milans GodFather