MY ACCOUNT
Milan president Paolo Scaroni has criticised the state of Italian football, saying it must commit to change to begin competing with the top European leagues.
Speaking to newspaper Il Foglio, the chief of the reigning Serie A champions said: “You need to propose a product that you like, because football is not only sport but also entertainment.”
There has not been an Italian winner of the Champions League since the 2009-10 season, when Milan’s city rivals Inter overcame Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final.
Since that campaign, all trophy-winning teams in the competition have hailed from Spain, Germany or England.
“Our Serie A has become a Serie B when compared with the other major European leagues,” said Scaroni.
Scaroni pointed to clubs struggling to sell out their games in stadiums that are ripe for renovation.
He said: “Our stadiums are outdated and without fans, our combined earnings are lower than those of Premier League teams individually.
“We are discussing how to sell our rights abroad, but we must be aware that the product must be improved.”
Scaroni also spoke about Milan’s proposed move away from San Siro to a new home, saying: “Whoever gives us the go-ahead will find us ready.”
