Milan's city council has voted to sell the iconic San Siro stadium to its tenants, Inter and AC Milan, who plan to demolish it and build a new shared stadium on the same site. The sale, approved by a narrow majority of 24 to 20 after an 11-hour debate, will see the clubs pay €197 million for the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza and surrounding land. The new stadium is expected to be completed by 2031.
The clubs first announced joint plans for a new stadium in June 2019, but progress stalled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, political opposition, and laws protecting historic landmarks. Inter's president, Giuseppe Marotta, has been a vocal advocate for the new stadium, warning that Milan risks becoming marginal in European and global football without it. In September, UEFA stripped San Siro of the 2027 Champions League final due to a lack of refurbishments, and the stadium would not be eligible to host games at the 2032 European Championships.
Local opposition remains strong, with protesters arguing that the San Siro belongs to the citizens. A legal appeal against the sale has already been filed by residents. Marotta described the current phase as an 'interim bureaucratic phase', with deeds to be drawn up in November before moving to the planning stage. The clubs face further hurdles, including legislation designed to preserve historic buildings.
