April 2 – Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala has spoken of his preference for the cities’ clubs to renovate the San Siro rather than construct a new stadium, leaving future plans over the venue in doubt.
Last November the Milan clubs signed a memorandum of understanding pledging to co-operate on revamping the current San Siro or simply build a new stadium, on a site near today’s ground, but those plans need the approval of the city’s mayor and Sala might well force AC Milan and Inter Milan to stick with the 80,000 capacity home ground they have been sharing.
“The superintendent is checking that there are no constraints on San Siro,” Sala told Sky Italia. “I’m not aware of any, but I reiterate my position: I’d prefer to work on the existing San Siro. If the two teams, for fear of having to play on a construction site while the season is ongoing, prefer a different project, they know what scope we can give them in terms of construction.”
The San Siro was opened in 1926 and the Milan rivals have been sharing the stadium for 71 years. The venue remains a Milan landmark and received upgrades for the 1990 World Cup in Italy and again for the 2016 Champions League, but Sala acknowledges that the clubs needs a modern stadium to compete with Europe’s elite clubs.
“It’s clear to them and us that a stadium without any further development is hardly sustainable,” said Sala. “I’m not in a hurry, but I’d like them to come to us with a clear proposal. One way or another, it would be a good thing for Milan. I have to think like a mayor rather than a fan. I’m fond of San Siro but, as mayor, I must say that it’s only an issue of rules being respected so let’s see what happens.”
Inter chief executive Alessandro Antonello however reiterated the desire of the Milan clubs to build a new San Siro. “A stadium is a very important asset in modern football,” Antonello told Sky Italia. “The city of Milan needs a stadium on par with those of the biggest cities in Europe.”
The clubs have proposed a reduced 60,000 capacity ground that would cost a reported €600 million. Representatives from the Milan clubs have visited stadia in the US to draw ideas and inspiration for their proposed project.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713559292labto1713559292ofdlr1713559292owedi1713559292sni@o1713559292fni1713559292