Marotta: Inter and Milan need new stadium to fill ‘big gap’ with European rivals
Inter President Beppe Marotta says the new San Siro will be an asset and a ‘source of revenue’ for the Nerazzurri and Milan as the Milanese sides aim to fill the ‘big gap’ with European rivals.
Inter and Milan unveiled the new San Siro project on Thursday. It will have a capacity of 71,5000 and be called ‘Generali Stadium’ for the next 20 years.
“In some respects, whilst San Siro represents a repository of historical memory, it no longer meets the requirements of a modern stadium or what the fans want,” Marotta told The Athletic.
The new stadium will be adjacent to the existing Stadio Meazza, meaning that Inter and Milan will continue playing in their current stadium until the new one is ready.
Work will begin in 2028, and the stadium will be ready for the 2031-32 season, just in time for Euro 2032, which Italy will co-host with Turkiye.
“Just consider that, according to the figures we have today, Real Madrid generates around €250m a year (from the Bernabeu), whilst we’re currently just under €100m with San Siro. As well as being an asset for the club, a stadium is also a source of revenue,” Marotta continued.
“At present, there’s far too big a gap between us in Italy and some of our rival clubs in Europe, which also affects our competitiveness and certainly puts us in a very difficult position.”
Like every modern stadium in the world, activities at Inter and Milan’s new stadium won’t only be limited to football matches.
“A stadium must have a life of its own and be functional, not just on Sundays or when matches are played,” Marotta argued.
“In Italy, where there are major bureaucratic hurdles to launching projects of this nature, this has come about thanks in part to the arrival and tenacity of Oaktree.
“Their tenacity has perhaps broken down some of the bureaucratic barriers which, in our country, unfortunately represented a major stumbling block and were difficult to overcome. Today, we are truly on an upward trajectory.”
Inter and Milan will meet in the Derby della Madonnina tomorrow, Saturday, October 31. The Nerazzurri are currently the joint-table leaders with Lazio, while Milan sit fifth, seven points below the leading pair.
