New AC Milan owner and president
Li Yonghong ended his first speech in charge Friday saying, in
Italian, "Forza Milan".
He said "this glorious club is starting a new chapter. The
success of this transition was made possible by the deep love of
the Milan fans, by the efforts of the partners, and I thank
(ex-premier Silvio) Berlusconi and Fininvest for the trust they
have placed in us".
"We have a great responsibility on our shoulders," Li went
on, adding that Berlusconi's daughter Barabra would be head of
the Milan Foundation.
The new club CEO, Marco Fassone, told reporters that Silvio
Berlusconi "knows the club is in good hands".
Berlusconi's 31-year era as AC Milan owner came to an end
Thursday when Chinese businessman Li formally became the owner.
In his first statement, Li said "I thank Berlusconi and
Fininvest for their confidence, and the fans for their patience,
from today we will build the future".
Berlusconi said that "if today I leave all operational and
representative posts, I will always remain Milan's no.1 fan, the
team that my father taught me to love as a boy, the dream we
realised together.
"I send the new owners the most cordial and deeply felt wish
that they will reach even more extraordinary targets than the
ones we did".
Berlusconi said he was leaving "with pain" but in the
awareness that "a single family is no longer able to make the
investments needed to compete at the top European and world
levels".
He said he would "never forget the emotions Milan gave me and
all of us".
Berlusconi's holding company Fininvest closed a deal selling
99.93% of the seven-time European champion's shares to
Luxembourg-based vehicle Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux, created
ad hoc by the Chinese investor.
"Fininvest today finalised the sale to Rossoneri Sport
Investment Lux of its entire stake, 99.93%, held in AC Milan", a
joint statement said.
"The buyers have confirmed their commitment to make major
interventions of recapitalisation and financial and assets
reinforcement of AC Milan".
Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura said he was sad to see
Berlusconi go and called the Milan side of Ruud Gullit and Marco
Van Basten "one of the three clubs that made the history of
soccer" in the last 50 years along with Johan Cruyff's Ajax and
Barcelona.
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