Furlani labels football ‘an industry’ and discusses Milan’s future: “A global icon” | OneFootball

Giorgio Furlani was recently interviewed by the magazine Fortune Italia and shared his thoughts on the growth of AC Milan. Among other things, he also made it clear that football is an industry and not just a game.

Since Elliott Management took over Milan, and then RedBird Capital, there have been various hurdles to overcome such as the stadium bureaucracy and the removal of the Growth Decree. Nevertheless, Milan returned to profit for the 2022-23 financial year and is on a promising path.

Speaking to Fortune Italian, as transcribed by Calciomercato.com, Giorgio Furlani shared his thoughts on Milan’s growth as a whole and the systematic issues in Italy. He stated that the country must treat football as an industry that adds a lot to the economy, and not just a game.

You are AC Milan’s CEO and you are also a supporter…

“I’m lucky to find myself in this position. I go into it with a great sense of responsibility, especially since I saw what happened when the club was managed in an imprudent way. I joined Milan about six years ago when the club needed to be saved from bankruptcy…”

On the corporate side of the project…

“The Milan project has focused on the talent of young people at all levels, mixing it with the necessary experience. We have rejuvenated the managerial structure by also adding profiles from other sectors. It’s the right thing to do to bring new ideas. Since July last year, the club has created around 30 new professional opportunities, with an average age of 28 among these new employees.”

And on the pitch?

“We have built a competitive team, with the inclusion of quality young players, physically strong and suited to modern football. Among the top teams in the league, we are the team with the lowest average age if we count the players fielded in Serie A. Furthermore, the Rossoneri locker room is a very united one, a group made up of great men and great players.”

On Italian football as a whole…

“We need to work hard and do it all together. Football is an extraordinary tool for attracting capital and participating in the growth of the country’s GDP. We have systemic problems, including sports infrastructures which are embarrassing, to put it mildly.

“We also have serious problems with piracy, as well as rules and laws that prevent us from competing at a European level. To be clear: if we want to incorporate this large slice of the economy within the country system we must collaborate synergistically.”

On the possibility of foreign entrepreneurs entering football…

“We need to abandon the idea that football is a game and nothing else. Football is an industry. We are talking about companies that have hundreds of millions in turnover and that can bring hundreds of millions of investments into our country.”

On Milan…

“After difficult years, the recovery and relaunch of this club – which represents the history of Italian football – was made possible by Elliott Management and helped avoid the disaster of bankruptcy. Today, however, we are experiencing a phase of acceleration and growth.

“We are in an important new chapter of the club’s evolution, supported by the strategic vision of Gerry Cardinale, RedBird’s skills and experience in sports business, in the media, in the ability to develop global brands and create virtuous synergies. We have started a fundamental growth path to fill the gap with the big teams in Europe, especially those in the Premier League, which can count on significant revenues.”

On infrastructure…

“Foreign entrepreneurs are willing to invest to build new stadiums. There is a de facto impossibility at a bureaucratic and administrative level. There is will and there is capital available, but it is not possible to invest.”

On San Siro turning 100 years old…

“Well, maybe we need a new one? We have been working for more than five years to give Milan a new stadium and we have shown that it is a priority for us. It is fundamental for the future of the club, to continuously return to the elite of international football.

“Milan needs to have the most beautiful, modern and functional stadium in the world. We want to be a global icon, a point of reference for innovation and sustainability, which offers unprecedented accessibility and experience, maximum safety, comfort and services.

“What is certain is that RedBird wants to offer fans an experience and a home that lives up to the status of this great club and is suited to the modern era. And RedBird has experience in doing just that.”

Will you be able to build a new stadium in Milan, Italy too?

“We have a new major stadium project in San Donato in the pipeline. We will make every effort to achieve the result, despite the various system obstacles. We are, as I told you, in a new phase of growth for Milan, under the guidance of RedBird, and the stadium represents a fundamental pillar on which the entire management is focused, starting from President Paolo Scaroni.”

On the disappearance of Growth Decree…

“We have talked a lot about the Growth Decree, about the legal provisions that gave us fiscal advantages. These regulations have been repealed. All the disadvantages remain: from the dilapidated structures, to the contracts, to the possibility of registering a certain number of non-EU players. Not to mention the football industry creates revenue for the state coffers in terms of betting, but doesn’t see even a cent of euros because the Dignity Decree prohibits it.”

On politics…

“The question is: is football an industry? Yes, it is in terms of revenue, investments, number of workers, tax revenue, social security, social consensus and more. If other parts of the industry receive aid, benefits, contributions, and incentives, it is impossible to understand why football should be excluded.

“A virtuous circle must be created: the healthier the football industry is, the more income and profit it produces, and contributes to public spending. If we had made Milan go bankrupt today we would be here talking about a national disaster from every point of view. Instead, Milan is healthy, growing, and wants to help Italian football restart.”

The stadium project has taken some steps forward in recent weeks as the San Donati council’s technical committee approved the project. Milan have also officially bought a piece of land in the San Francesco area, investing less than the initially reported €40m but still a significant amount.