AC Milan are back in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 16 years and it is not just sporting pride that has been earned, but also plenty of extra money.
Calciomercato.com report that the victory over Napoli across the two legs is worth €25m. Conquering a place in the final four means collecting another €12.5m from UEFA in prize money, to which we must add other bonuses – currently unquantifiable – and matchday revenues.
The ticket sales for the home leg of the semi-final could surpass the record achieved against Tottenham which was €9,133,842. Therefore, it is likely that the amount obtained just from that stage alone will be €25m.
That must be added to the €59.36m earned for access to the round of 16 from the group stage, divided into €15.64m for participation bonuses, €14.79m for historical ranking, around €12m for the market pool, €9.33m in bonuses and €9.6m for reaching the last 16.
However, €2m must be subtracted for violations of Financial Fair Play, but then €10.6m added for access to the quarter-finals, meaning a total of over €82m obtained.
In the event of qualifying for the final in Istanbul, scheduled for Saturday 10 June at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium which is where Rossoneri lost on penalties against Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool in 2005, UEFA will guarantee €15.5m to Milan while victory in the final is worth €4.5m.
Qualifying for the semi-finals of the Champions League makes Pioli and Maldini smile, but also the ownersip: Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird. Milan had expected to close the 2022-23 budget in the red by around €25m, but now break even could be reached or even a small positive.
It marks a big step forward compared to the €66.5m losses recorded at the end of the 2021-22 season and certainly a far cry from the deficit of €96.4m in the 2020-21 season.
