There is a large sum of cash resting on AC Milan reaching the group stages of the Europa League, according to a report.
The Rossoneri begin their campaign on Thursday night with a second qualifying round game against Shamrock Rovers in Dublin. Should they progress, they would be two games (the third round and a Play-Off) away from the groups.
While it is not the Champions League, Thursday’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanLive) notes how there is plenty of economic incentive to reach the groups.
Passage to the group stage is worth €15million to Milan’s coffers, while having an excellent run and reaching the final would bring in around €35million.
Qualification to the Round of 32 brings in €500k, which becomes €1.1m if you pass through to the Round of 16 and €1.5m for the quarter-finals.
Semi-finalists each receive €2.4m and there is an addition €4.5m for the finalists, with the winner getting an extra €4m and – obviously – a guaranteed spot in the Champions League.
Two years ago the Rossoneri were eliminated in the group stages during the final round of games. From the 2018-19 edition they collected €14.6m from UEFA and from other revenues related to the competition, and it must be noted that this year there will be no extra ticket/matchday income as the games are behind closed doors.
