Italy: AC Monza, Silvio Berlusconi's club, are promoted to Serie A

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AC Monza fans know who they have to thank - Berlusconi's company Fininvest took over the club in 2018

Photo: Alessandro Bremec / dpa

Five years after leaving AC Milan, Silvio Berlusconi is returning to Serie A – but not with Milan.

The scandalous businessman and former prime minister celebrated the promotion of his new club AC Monza to the top Italian football league on Sunday evening.

The club made it into Serie A for the first time with a 4-3 victory after extra time in the second leg at SC Pisa in the play-off final.

US Lecce and US Cremonese had previously been promoted directly.

"We did it," said Berlusconi after the success.

He is looking forward to the duels with the former club in the new season.

"My heart then beats for both the one and the other club."

Berlusconi's company Fininvest took over the club in 2018;

today his brother Paolo is president, while Adriano Galliani, who has been close to Milan for many years, is CEO.

At that time, Monza was still playing in Serie C, in 2020 they were promoted to Serie B. In the past 2020/21 season, Monza just failed to get promoted with Kevin-Prince Boateng and Mario Balotelli in the squad.

With Milan, the 85-year-old Berlusconi was used to higher football spheres: During his time as owner from 1986 to 2017, the Black and Reds won the Champions League and the European Cup five times and the championship title eight times.

In April 2017, Berlusconi's company sold its shares in Milan to a Chinese consortium.

The traditional club now belongs to American investors.

The Milanese recently won their 19th championship – and Berlusconi celebrated with them.

see/dpa