There is a lot of speculation surrounding the future of AC Milan when it comes to on-field matters, and the economic damage of the 2023-24 season could result in changes.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning, Milan at the moment seem to be hoping for second place in the league at best having bowed out of competing with Inter quite early on.
The Rossoneri hope to catch Juventus and second place guarantees a consolation of €15m, substantially less than what will end up in the winner’s coffers of course, while there will be a dent in pride if Inter get a second star first.
Winning the Europa League would bring back a smile but not full happiness. The trophy would shine for the first time in the showcase at Casa Milan but it is less glittering than the Scudetto or Champions League.
Milan know the value of Europe well. Before being eliminated from the groups they had collected around €61m between participation, ranking, results in the group, market pool and box office. Less than half of last year.
The Champions League is not just music, glory and matches on every screen in the world. It is a guarantee of income, because getting further also has implications when it comes to the Club World Cup.
A hole in the accounts
Around this time one year ago Milan were preparing for the round of 16 of the Champions League against Tottenham which was worth €9.5m – this time they won’t be able to budget that.
For having reached the semi-final Milan collected a total of €85m UEFA prizes and €42.5m in ticket sales/matchday revenues, even if the full stadium remains a constant and predictably will also be so in the Europa League matches.
Returning to the Champions League, the overall figure of earnings accumulated in 2022-23 is €127.5m, more than double this season and with a €66.5m difference.
Among the last 16 in the UCL, Inter have already added €10m more by qualifying for the round of 16 and they will of course boost this if they were to get past Atletico Madrid.
The Europa League becomes more significant only in the event of winning the trophy. Being among the last 32 brings in €500k, then in the round of 16 it is €1.2m.
It is €1.8m for those who reach the quarter-finals, €2.8m for those who reach the semi-finals and finally €4.6m to the finalists plus another €4m for the winner. Total: €14.9m, in the best case scenario.
To this we must add the earnings from the market pool, performance bonuses and again the stadium revenues. In recent years San Siro has proven to be a faithful ally in everything, which helps.
An addition regret
The FIFA Club World Cup is something else which Milan have missed out on, and Gerry Cardinale really wanted to participate in it. In addition to the lack of visibility, it is once again a question of pride and money.
The tournament will debut in June 2025 with 32 participants. Based on the ranking, there will be two Italian clubs: Inter are already sure of being there, Juve and Napoli are competing for the other place.
Milan will not stamp a ticket to the United States and the American ownership of the club would have welcomed them to their home with satisfaction and perhaps new commercial initiatives in the USA.
Above all, the club will have to do without the €45m to the participants. In times of self-financing, this is a fact that will also impact the next summer mercato and could influence choices.
Does GDS and Tuttosport think Milan operates like Chelsea who bought 1 billion worth of players banking on them being good and now are screwed financially?
There’s a reason no one does that even though twitter fans loved it
It was group of death
Everyone in Milan calculated exit in group.
Thats why Tonali was sold.
Revenues should be on same level like last year.
And to be more competitive Milan needs stronger team not just younger.
“It was group of death
Everyone in Milan calculated exit in group.
Thats why Tonali was sold.”
Nope. Tonali was sold before the groups were announced.
And cmon, stop regretting about Tonali.
Hes sold already, and that proved to be shrewd business.
We got 70m and he got banned for months because of betting scandal.
If we didn’t sell him, we won’t get that money, won’t buy more midfield players, and will lost him from the ban till next season anyway. We would be in far worse position than now.
still dont know why people treat Tonali like some sort of generational talent, he isnt that good, 70m for him is insane, no one in Italy would ever pay that and very few EPL teams will.
100%
He is the gattuso of the team, the one who gives the bite in midfield
this is how it looks when the coach fails. Last season he failed in serie a this season in cl.
The club has ambition and Pioli so far has not been able to deliver. Thx for your work (one scudeto) and bye bye