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AC Milan sale to Chinese-led consortium 'worth €1billion'

David Han Li, Yonghong Li, and Marco Fassone, pose with AC Milan shirtsng a press conference - AP
David Han Li, Yonghong Li, and Marco Fassone, pose with AC Milan shirtsng a press conference - AP

The overall deal for the sale of soccer club AC Milan to a Chinese-led consortium is worth €1 billion euros (£850million), the club's CEO designate Marco Fassone said on Friday.

The Chinese investors are paying €740 million for the club, including debt.

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On top of that, €100 million would be paid to cover management costs in the run-up to the closing of the deal, while around €160 million would be invested in the club, Fassone told a press conference presenting the agreement.

Italy's most successful club was on Thursday finally sold by the former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi to a Chinese-led consortium after several delays over the past few months.

The new owner of AC Milan, Li Yonghong (R), shakes hand with former president Silvio Berlusconi - Credit: EPA
The new owner of AC Milan, Li Yonghong (R), shakes hand with former president Silvio BerlusconiCredit: EPA

Berlusconi's holding company, Fininvest, released a statement Thursday announcing that it had completed the transfer of its 99.93 percent stake in Milan to Rossoneri Sport Luxembourg - which was formerly known as Sino-Europe Sports.

The group, led by Chinese businessman Yonghong Li, has been attempting to buy Milan for some time but the deal has hit a series of delays and the sale has been postponed twice.

"I thank Berlusconi and Fininvest for their trust and the fans for their patience. From today we will build the future," Li said.

The deal, which values Milan at €740 million, requires the investors to spend €350 million over three years on improvements.

AC Milan in action last weekend - Credit:  Getty Images
AC Milan in action last weekendCredit: Getty Images

"The buyers have confirmed their commitment to fulfill important recapitalization investments to the balance sheet and strengthen AC Milan's finances and assets," Fininvest said in the statement.

A general shareholders' meeting has been called for Friday when the names of the new president and directors will be announced. There is also expected to be a news conference on Friday.

The new owners' first match will be Saturday's derby against Inter Milan, which is also owned by a Chinese company.

"This is an epochal day for Milan," AC Milan coach Vincenzo Montella said. "I would like to thank Berlusconi and (vice president Adriano) Galliani for having given me the opportunity to coach a club as glorious as the Rossoneri.

"In the next few days I will meet the new management and together we will find the solutions to make Milan as successful as it was in the past."

Chinese fans of AC Milan sing before their team's International Champions Cup friendly - Credit: Reuters
Chinese fans of AC Milan sing before their team's International Champions Cup friendlyCredit: Reuters

During Berlusconi's reign, Milan won a number of trophies at home and abroad. The Rossoneri won eight league titles, one Italian Cup and seven Super Cups as well as five Champions League trophies and five UEFA Super Cups.

But the famous Italian club has slipped from the top in recent years and is currently sixth in Serie A.

Milan won the Italian Super Cup in December, beating Juventus for its first trophy in six years.

"I'm leaving today, after more than 30 years, the title and job of Milan president," Berlusconi said in a long statement on Milan's website. "I do it with pain and emotion, but with the knowledge that in modern soccer, in order to compete at the top European and world levels, you need investment and resources which one single family is not able to sustain.

"I will always be the first fan of Milan, the team that my father taught me to love as a child, the dream that we realized together. To the new owners I give my best and most heartfelt wishes that you achieve goals even more extraordinary than those achieved by us."

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