AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale has called for a greater emphasis on sports infrastructure and modernization within Italian football, while also making a pointed remark about Inter Milan’s performance in the 2025 Champions League Final, suggesting they “didn’t show up.”
In a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Cardinale expressed his frustration with the current state of Italian football, stating that the focus should be on critical issues rather than controversies. He highlighted the importance of improving sports infrastructure and modernizing the game, questioning why Italy has failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups.
Cardinale further elaborated on the competitive disparity in European football, noting that the issue extends beyond Serie A to include a lack of presence in Champions League Finals, citing a hypothetical 5-0 loss as an example of not competing effectively. He pointed to the significant financial gap in television rights revenue between the Premier League and other leagues, emphasizing that this disparity is widening in Italian football.
“You won’t solve it without money,” Cardinale stated, drawing from his own financial expertise. He acknowledged the need to adapt his approach to the Italian context, recognizing that direct transplantation of American business practices is not feasible and stressing the importance of collaborating with skilled Italians during his learning process.