Milan legend Rivera slams RedBird for not inviting him to 125th anniversary celebrations

Gianni Rivera has aimed a dig at AC Milan’s ownership, RedBird, for failing to invite him to the club’s celebrations for the 125th anniversary.

At the end of 2024, more specifically on December 15, Milan celebrated their 125th anniversary (one day early) with the game against Genoa. There was a big spectacle before the game and several legends were present, including Franco Baresi, Marco Van Basten, and Ruud Gullit.

The day after, i.e. the actual anniversary date, there was an even bigger party at a different location and the legends were present at this one too (see the feature image).

However, the club’s third-best goalscorer of all time, namely Gianni Rivera, was missing from the celebrations. As the first Italian to win a Ballon D’Or, ‘the Golden Boy’ is synonymous with AC Milan and quality, still to this day at the age of 83.

Message sent to RedBird

In an interview with MilanNews, following an event with the Milan club Diavoli Etruschi, Rivera shared his thoughts on the current state of the Rossoneri. He took the opportunity to aim a dig at RedBird and Gerry Cardinale.

Are you still following the club? What do you think?

“I haven’t followed AC Milan as much as I used to since the Americans arrived. I’ve been worried about the club’s well-being, and I see that things aren’t going as they used to. I’m having a hard time following them.

“They celebrated an important date [125th anniversary, editor’s note] and they forgot to invite me because they don’t know much about football.”

You have recently lost two great friends, Baresi and Mazzola…

“A memory of Franco? His entire life. When he arrived at Milan, he was a little younger than me, and he was excellent in his role, especially because he started at a very young age as a libero, which wasn’t easy at that age.

“As for Sandro, I’ve known for a long time that he wasn’t well, but it was a friendship that lasted for many years, until the other day he decided to leave us.”

Will we see club icons like yourself, Baresi, Maldini, Totti, and Mazzola in Italian football again, or is everything just business now?

“For now, football is what you say it is… Until it returns to our models, it will always be like this.”