In what has been described as the biggest-ever East investment in a European club, Italian football club, AC Milan has been officially sold to a Chinese consortium, Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux for €740m.
Representatives from both groups met in the morning in a Milan law firm and signed the documents which hand over the ownership and management of the club to the consortium headed by businessman Yonghong Li.
Silvio Berlusconi whose 31-year ownership of the club has come to an end said, “I today leave, after more than thirty years, the ownership and the presidency of AC Milan I do it with grief and emotion. I will never forget all the emotions that AC Milan gave me and to all of us. My deepest thank you from the bottom of my heart goes to our fans. To the millions of supporters who filled the stadiums. Without all [the fans], our glorious AC Milan wouldn’t have existed and would not exist today. Together with [the fans], we won everything there was to win. I have in my eyes & in my heart, thousands of different moments. Although today I leave this position, I’ll forever be Milan’s 1st fan, the team my father taught me to love when I was a child. I wish the new management to achieve even more great results than we did.”
A statement read, “Fininvest has completed the sale of the entire stake owned in AC Milan – equal to 99.93 per cent – to Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux,” the statement confirmed.
“The closing is the last step of the purchase agreement signed on August 5, 2016 and renewed on March 24 by Fininvest CEO Danilo Pellegrino and David Han Li, as a representative of Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux.
“The terms of the agreement are the same as disclosed in August and reflect an aggregate evaluation of AC Milan equal to €740m, which includes the club’s indebtedness, equal to €220m as of June 30, 2016.
”A €90m refund for AC Milan’s running costs anticipated by Fininvest from July 1, 2016 hitherto adds up to the evaluation.
“The buyers also confirmed their commitment to undertake significant capital increases and liquidity injections aimed at strengthening AC Milan’s financial structure.”
The Serie A club have won eight league titles and five European Cups.
Honda promises to live to up to expectations
Keisuke Honda has promised fans of his club, AC Milan to expect more from him next season as he is committed to deliver consistently. Honda expressed his satisfaction over the number 10 role he played in the friendly against Madrid while also relishing the start of the new season.
“I want to live up to the expectations of the fans for this season and I am sure that everything will go well. But I want to please our fans. I promise the fans that I will do my best for them and for Milan. The position in which I played in tonight is perfect for me,” he told Milan Channel . “I played there for 10 years.
The Japan international joined the Rossoneri on a free transfer from CSKA Moscow in January 2014 but has thus far failed to produce his very best form on a consistent basis, netting eight times in 46 matches in all competitions.
Photos: Over 200 AC Milan fans storm Italian airport to receive Fernando Torres.
Goodbye England, Italy is the new deal! So more than 200 AC Milan fans stormed the Ata Milano Linate airport, Italy to receive Chelsea striker, Fernando Torres today. The Spaniard who arrived the country to complete his 2 year loan move to AC Milan signed few autographs before heading to the Madonnina Clinic to undergo medical tests.
Photocredit: Twitter
‘I Leave With Sadness But I Know I’ll Make You Proud’ – Mario Balotelli pens heartfelt farewell message to AC Milan
Few hours after he sealed up his £16million move to Liverpool, Mario Balotelli has penned a heartfelt farewell message to the fans as well as staff he left at AC Milan. The message was posted on his instagram account.
“As I am about to enter a new chapter, I would like to thank the AC Milan fans who have shown incredible loyalty and faith in me. I also want to thank the great staff who have shown exceptional patience and guidence [sic] over the years.
“Most importantly, I want to express endless gratitude to my teammates who supported me on and off the pitch, just like my family does. Your camaraderie will be forever appreciated, as I’ve learned so much from you all.
“I leave Milan with sadness, but know that I will still make you all proud going forward.
“#FORZAMILAN!!!! #ThankYouMilan ❤️❤️❤️ I’m forever grateful❤️✌️”
Done deal! Mario Balotelli completes Liverpool move, poses with Jersey No. 45 (Photo)
It’s official! Mario Balotelli has returned to England. The Italian who was spotted at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground today has sealed his £16million switch from AC Milan to the English Premier League club. He’s pictured posing with his jersey No 45.
Photos: Mario Balotelli arrives Liverpool's training ground.
Italian striker, Mario Balotelli pictured arriving at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground today to finalise his £16million switch from AC Milan. His dressing? Oh, it’s still Mario Balotelli. No surprises!
Liverpool in talks with AC Milan to sign Mario Balotelli
Reports reaching us has it that Liverpool has agreed a £16million deal for the transfer of AC Milan forward, Mario Balotelli. And both parties are closing in on the deal pretty soon. The controversial former Manchester City striker hinted at the movie when he told Sky Italia, ‘This will be my last day at Milan.’
AC Milan legend labels Mario Balotelli a real failure
Oops! we know Mario Balotelli could be dramatic on pitch but performance wise he’s trying his best. To AC Milan legend, Jose Altafini he’s nothing short of a failure, doesn’t learn from mistakes and cannot be relied upon. Analysing AC Milan’s performance which hasn’t really been too impressive this season, Altafini feels the Italian international takes the greatest share of the blame and not the current CEO Adriano Galliani.
“The real failure is Balotelli. Adriano has done what he could. By now, it’s no longer a surprise. He just continues always doing the same things. In my opinion, he doesn’t need to be given any more importance, in the expectation and the hope that he will eventually be able to figure something out. The great players distinguish themselves through character and their personality. Well, not in his case. Just compare him with Kaka. I don’t know if selling him is the best solution. The truth is that Milan, in the condition they find themselves in, still need him. Better to wait until the end of the season and then make a decision.”
Credit: goal.com
MARIO BALOTELLI SEALS AC MILAN MOVE
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| Mario Balotelli with his AC Milan shirt |
Former Manchester City striker, Mario Balotelli has finally completed his move to Italian club, AC Milan having completed his medical tests. He however thanked his erstwhile teammates, manager and supporters for being great with him, “I will always have a very special place in my heart for City, it’s a great club with a great future, I thank them for all of their support of me. Maybe one day we will see each other again.”
“I spoke with Roberto before I went to speak to the players. We spoke for some time about lots of things. He was sad, and I was too. But it was a good conversation. I love Roberto, he has been very important for my career, and I will always thank him for having trust and faith in me.” He wrote on Manchester City’s website
Photocredit: ITV Sports
CAMEROONIAN STRIKER SAMUEL ETO'O DROPS LAW SUIT AGAINST FORMER CLUB BARCELONA
The successful enterpreneur cum striker who was swapped with AC milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovich in 2010 and is now enjoying a swell time with a Russian club Anzhi Makhackala has decided to bury the hatchet and move on.
A Catalunya Superior Court however wrote to the club to inform them the proceedings over a deal worth £60m and additional amount of money in form of interest has been dissolved.
During his tenure, Samuel who owns an up and running mobile network (SET mobile) scored 152 goals in the club adding two Champions League and three Spanish league titles to his achievements.
Source: Goal.com