AC Milan sale delayed again
MILAN (AP) - The sale of AC Milan to a group of Chinese investors was again delayed on Friday.
The completion of the deal was originally scheduled for December, but Silvio Berlusconi's holding company Fininvest and Sino-Europe Sports agreed to a three-month delay, postponing the closing to Friday.
"Conditions of the contract have not been met so the closing cannot happen today as initially planned," Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said at a shareholders' meeting.
FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2016 file photo, AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi, left, is flanked by vice president Adriano Galliani during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Inter Milan, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy. The sale of AC Milan to a group of Chinese investors was again delayed on Friday, March 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
"Fininvest points out, however, that it is evaluating the possibility of drawing up an agreement to give up its ownership of AC Milan soon."
The new date is expected to be March 31.
The deal with Sino-Europe values Milan at 740 million euros (about $800 million). The investors have already paid 200 million euros as a deposit.
Berlusconi, who purchased Milan 31 years ago, has been negotiating for more than a year to sell the Serie A club.
Giuseppe Scala, representing those with smaller stakes in the club, accused Fininvest of not being transparent and demanded more clarity from the club.
Galliani responded by saying he worked for Milan, not Fininvest.
"Why should I feel like I'm being taken for a fool?" Galliani asked. "There's nothing that doesn't work, corporate life continues as normal and calm, salaries are paid.
"The deal between potential vendors and potential buyers is between Fininvest and SES. They can give answers, not the managing director of Milan. With all the goodwill, I can't respond to questions on where we are, what will happen, what will be AC Milan's future, because I don't know. If Milan will or will not be sold does not depend on me."
FILE - In this March 13, 2011 file photo, AC Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani arrives for a party to celebrate Silvio Berlusconi's 25 years as president of AC Milan, at a theatre in downtown Milan, Italy. The sale of AC Milan to a group of Chinese investors was again delayed on Friday, March 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
