Inter CEO admits the clubs could move away from San Siro to new site if delays continue

By Oliver Fisher -

Inter CEO Alessandro Antonello has confirmed that the new stadium project could be moved to another part of the city if the process continues to take too long.

Milan and Inter recently announced that the project presented by the Populous studio, known as “the Cathedral”, has been chosen for their new stadium.

As MilanNews reported at the time, the press release states that the public interest resolution issued by the Municipality of Milan last November provides, in addition to the construction of the new stadium, the reconfiguration of the area where the Meazza currently stands.

Since then though things have gone quiet and there have been suggestions in the media that the leaderships of the Nerazzurri and the Rossoneri are becoming frustrated with how long the process is taking.

Antonello spoke about the stadium issue during an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport and he admitted the existence of a plan B that involves moving away from the San Siro district of the city.

“Have we lost our patience? No, but the clubs have done and are doing everything possible to carry on the San Siro project, which was our priority. But on the other hand, we perceived perhaps a lack of adhesion to the project by the administration,” he said (via Calciomercato.com).

“For more than three years we have presented the project and made all the required variations, giving willingness to lower the volumetric indexes, but we fear that the bureaucratic process is getting longer. As in all projects, however, there are always alternative plans…”

“In the meantime, the premise is that on our part there is no longer ‘exclusivity’ on San Siro: we can’t stand still, immobile, for three years without having any answers and, therefore, it is right to look around to give a stadium to the city and to the fans.

“Among the various hypotheses, on which there is not yet an overall screening, the one of Sesto San Giovanni certainly resists, which at the time was the subject of evaluation.”

On sharing the stance with Milan: “We continue with the same unity of purpose, the one we have shown in all the project activities. We both want a modern, avant-garde facility, which will remain for future generations, which will live up to the clubs’ prestige.

“We do not want to put pressure on the administration: we respect all the administrative phases as much as possible. We know that there are obstacles and delays in the bureaucracy, but in these cases it is uncertainty that is the worst thing: the only ‘public debate’ could last a year.

“If all the planned procedures, including the same debate plus any referendums and appeals, lead to an extension of the project execution ‘time line’, at that point the clubs could only evaluate other projects with a more restricted planning.

“We are obviously available to clarify all the design elements to the committees, even if all the documentation is available to the technical offices. The determination is that both clubs have to equip themselves with a new stadium.”

On the idea of leaving the San Siro area: “If we were forced to give up the original project, it would certainly be a defeat for everyone. But it is more important to have a facility that matches the top European clubs. But if it were to be built in the metropolitan area, which we can consider completely organic in Milano, Inter and Milan would still remain attached to the values ​​of the city and their history.”

Tags AC Milan Alessandro Antonello
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