The proposal to redevelop San Siro is "another way of doing nothing".
Barbara Berlusconi is convinced of this. Ten years ago, when she was CEO of Milan, she tried to own the stadium, and now raises doubts about whether renovating the historic facility will create fewer inconveniences.
"The project seems generic and far-fetched to me. From the in-depth studies we had done, it costs less to do a new one" he said in an interview with ANSA, judging the estimated 300 million "a figure too low and not credible: Real Madrid will spend a lot more than a billion to renovate the Bernabeu, with costs almost doubling compared to forecasts."
Barbara Berlusconi for Milan in 2014-15 focused on a facility in the city, in place of pavilions 1 and 2 of the Milan Fair, with hotels, restaurants and playgrounds.
Fondazione Fiera approved the plan, which was instead opposed by the residents, but everything then came to a standstill.
"I am happy to have opened the debate. In fact, these years have not passed entirely in vain - notes the former prime minister's daughter -: more and more people have become aware of the absolute need to build a new structure and improve the quality of the football product. Football in Italy is an economic sector capable of involving 12 different product sectors in its value activation chain, with an indirect and induced impact on the Italian GDP of 10.2 billion euros and over 112,000 jobs."
So why isn't there a solution?
"Years have been wasted thinking more about political interests than about the needs of a sport and an industry, that of football, which is one of the most important in the country."
The delicate dossier is on the table of Mayor Beppe Sala.
"Pushing everything on the municipal administration seems reductive and partly instrumental to me. The issue - observes the CEO of the holding H 14 - concerns the country system and its desire not to decide, not to improve the structures. Bureaucracy and inadequate laws block the modernization of football".
San Siro needs it, according to Silvio Berlusconi's daughter.
"It is not functional: it is decadent, uncomfortable and lacks services. Those who frequent the second and third ring know this well - he explains -. Narrow, uncomfortable seats, endless ramps. There is a lack of adequate services, bars and toilets that are up to par. Even some sectors of the third ring are not accessible".
In this scenario "it is inevitable" that Milan and Inter will part ways.
"Coexistence is not very functional, a big city like Milan can have multiple stadiums", Barbara Berlusconi is sure.
Would Milan do well to go to San Donato?
"I have always been in favor of a stadium in the city. But after years of sterile discussions it is right to look for other ways", replies Barbara Berlusconi, according to whom citizens' protests against stadiums in residential areas "only happen in Italy. Abroad they are happy if a stadium is built nearby, they know that the area will be redeveloped, with more services, more security, the value of their homes will increase. The same protests occurred while Porta Nuova and City Life were being built: then they became the ticket tours of the new Milan and iconic places appreciated all over the world".
Sala, what does Barbara Berlusconi know?
"But what does Barbara Berlusconi know? Everyone can have their say but what does she know?".
Thus the mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, commented on the words of the former AC Milan CEO who explained how a renovation of the Meazza is "unlikely".
"Let's let those who know how to work work and that's not necessarily me - he added on the sidelines of a ceremony -, not even I can be able to make an evaluation but if now everyone has their say about him. Come on!".
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