Failed Takeover Could Be of Big Effect on AC Milan

AC Milan facing uncertainty…again.

The San Siro outfit and once Serie A’s shinning pearl AC Milan have been in a limbo that just doesn’t seem to be anywhere near from rolling over in Rosonerri’s favour.

And while club officials wait on the Chinese investment group Sino Europe Sports (SES), a new block which hit the road has put the entire deal in danger. With a huge question mark hanging over Milan’s future, an even bigger shadow of doubt has been cast upon the faith of the team that has just started showing glimpses of great promise under Vincenzo Montella.

Missed Target

Takeover deadline presented to Chinese investors has been missed at the end of last week as news of postponed meeting continue flood the Italian media.

AC Milan long-serving owner and president Silvio Berlusconi gave SES an extended timeline to complete the purchase of the Serie A club and he remains adamant that the deal will go through despite the series of setbacks.

The Chinese are reportedly serious about their plans to buy AC Milan, or that is exactly what their down payment of €200 million is supposed to suggest. In a deal that has valued Rosonerri at €778.7 million, the Chinese have a long way to go to reach the full distance however.

The SES claim ‘circumstances beyond their control’ have been the reason behind the latest delay, but an irate Berlusconi appears to be losing patience with his Chinese pals as he called SES to get things sorted out in a statement released on Friday with Berlusconi confirmed that the sale has been postponed.

Rosonerri have accepted to wait SES out, but questions are inevitable.

Possible Legal Issues

It is being debated that AC Milan could be in legal trouble over the €200 already invested by SES in the purchase. Should a takeover deal fail to materialize after another delay, Silvio Berlusconi is faced with several options and – as unreliable as we all know him to be – the former Italian Prime Minister would not surprise anyone if he were to take radical steps.

Italian media suggest that Berlusconi is ready to give SES another shot at the deal if the Chinese company makes another payment in excess of €100 million before the end of the month.

Another possibility is for Berlusconi to scrap the deal and search for alternate investors, which could place the club in a tight legal spot that could ultimately leave Milan in a lengthy legal battle which is the last thing anyone in the current situation wants.

Instead of stability, steadiness and solidity that was expected to lead AC Milan forward, Rosonerri fans are once again facing uncertain times that will do nothing good to Montella’s young squad which has been making serious waves in the Serie A this season.

Potential Squad Problems

Unbeaten in their last five Serie A appearances, Rosonerri have bounced back from the three-match losing run which saw them succumb to defeats by Napoli, Juventus (Coppa Italia), Udinese and Sampdoria.

Next up are Juventus again – this time in the league –  and Rosonerri are given huge 6/1 betting odds to surprise Bianconeri in Turin.

However, Montella’s boys are currently in seventh place in the standings and the excitement over a young and attractive team which has been playing of its age are slowly withering together with their chances of surprising the champions.

Getting back to glory days and challenging Juventus for the Italian crown would be a tough task even with new owners and fresh investments, so fans are afraid to even think what could happen if Milan end the season without a promised summer boost.

The plan was simple – strengthen the core and add quality – but the agenda is blurred as uncertainty rises.

The biggest question, symbolically, revolves around the ‘biggest’ man among the boys – Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Young Italian goalkeeper is represented by the merciless Mino Raiola who has already suggested that his protégée does not need a great Milan, but rather a great club, thus leaving door open for potential transfer.

Juventus are keen to make the youngster a natural successor of Gianluigi Buffon, whereas Manchester United and other European giants have been asking around as well.

Possible departure of homegrown talent Gianluigi Donnarumma would be more than a mere transfer however.

It would symbolize the end of a plan in its making, and potentially spark a chain reaction that would ultimately bring an end of an evolution that has long been mooted, but never exercised, much to what would surely be more than disappointment from the Milan faithful.  

And that is something Milan officials simply cannot afford to happen.