AC Milan’s Path Forward: Gerry Cardinale’s Vision for Sustainable Success

In a recent Harvard Business School case study, AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale shared insights on his plans for the storied Italian club. Cardinale, who acquired Milan through his RedBird Capital Partners firm, aims to bring a more disciplined financial approach while maintaining competitiveness.

Key points from Cardinale’s interview:

– He believes Milan has potential to become a €5 billion company
– The club is focused on smart spending and player development rather than solely buying stars
– A new 70,000-seat stadium is desired but faces approval challenges
– Selling players like Sandro Tonali was an opportunistic business decision
– The goal is to consistently compete for Serie A and Champions League, not just occasionally win titles

Cardinale emphasized balancing on-field success with financial sustainability: “Inter won the Scudetto last year and then went bankrupt – is that really what we want? My job is to position AC Milan to fight for the Scudetto every year, qualify for the Champions League every year, and go as far as possible in the Champions League every year.”

The American investor aims to blend US sports business practices with Italian football tradition. While acknowledging fans’ desire for trophies, Cardinale stressed the importance of building long-term value and stability for the club.