AC Milan Set to Receive £80million Cash Boost From Sponsor

AC Milan director Barbara Berlusconi has announced that her club has had its sponsorship deal with the Dubai-based Emirates Airlines extended for another five years. Berlusconi did not reveal the value of the new deal, but speculation is the deal could be worth as much as 100 million euros (£80 million). Milan’s previous contract with Emirates was believed to be worth 65 million euros (£52 million).

Should the new figures be correct, it will come as a welcome financial boost for the Serie A club who have had to sell off a number of top players over the past few seasons.

Two years ago, the seven-time champions of Europe concluded that, like the rest of Italian football, they could no longer compete with the financial muscle of clubs from England, Spain, France and Germany. AC Milan ending up selling the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Alessandro Nesta and Gennaro Gattuso in an effort to balance their books.

During today’s press conference, Barbara Berlusconi confessed that this new agreement will give the Italian club a “helping hand” in the transfer market.

“We’re a solid club and an important international brand,” the Milan director said. “This agreement will certainly give us a helping hand in the transfer market. Our target is to get back to the Champions League quickly.”

“I cannot talk about the numbers. I can only say that it is an important agreement. We both believe in the same values and therefore I think it is an agreement with which we can be very satisfied.”

“Milan is the most popular Italian club worldwide, so this agreement is very important for our brand.”

“Emirates also sponsors other big European clubs like Arsenal, PSG and Real Madrid.”

Last season, Milan finished eighth on the Serie A table. They are currently fifth in the league; with only six points separating the third place and twelfth place teams.

Berlusconi also spoke of Milan’s interest in building a new club-owned stadium. The club currently shares the city-run San Siro stadium with Inter Milan.

Juventus are the only Serie A club who own their own venue – AS Roma will become the second once the Stadio della Roma is completed.

“For a club like Milan, stadium ownership is essential,” Berlusconi said. “San Siro is wonderful, but football is constantly evolving, and our goal is to one day own our own stadium.

“In Italy, however, it’s not easy, it still requires a lot of work.”

“We are evaluating different locations, we want to continue this project and involve Emirates in the new plans.”

“It would be nice to work together on a new stadium.”

Emirates Airlines CEO Tim Clark indicated that the company could be open to such a deal.