Milan's city council has voted to sell the iconic San Siro stadium to its tenants, Inter Milan and AC Milan, who plan to demolish it and build a new shared home on the same site. The decision, passed by a narrow 24-20 majority after an 11-hour debate, ends months of uncertainty over the historic ground's future. The clubs will pay €197m for the stadium and surrounding land.
The proposal has sparked strong local opposition, with protesters arguing that San Siro belongs to the citizens. A legal appeal against the sale was filed within days by a group of residents. The stadium, officially named Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, has been home to AC Milan since 1926 and Inter since 1947.
Inter president Giuseppe Marotta has been a vocal advocate for the new stadium, warning that without it the city risks a marginal role in European football. San Siro was stripped of hosting rights for the 2027 Champions League final after refurbishment commitments were not met, and it would not be eligible for the 2032 European Championships in its current state.
The clubs first announced joint plans for a new stadium in June 2019, but progress stalled due to the pandemic and political hurdles. Milan had also explored a separate project in the suburb of San Donato. Marotta described the council vote as an interim bureaucratic phase, with deeds to be drawn up in November.
