Inter Milan and AC Milan’s long-standing bid for a new stadium on the site of the iconic San Siro received a major boost on Tuesday, as Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, signaled his willingness to sell the venue to the clubs before the summer.
Speaking to radio station RTL 102.5, Sala said he expected to receive a formal feasibility study, including a purchase offer, from the two clubs on Tuesday, which he would then present to the city council.
“The aim is to sell the stadium and the surrounding area by the start of the summer holidays,” Sala stated.
The two Serie A giants have been pushing for a modern stadium to replace San Siro and in October revived a joint project that was abandoned in 2023 after years of bureaucratic and political delays.
The revised plan, originally estimated at €1.3 billion, now includes only a partial demolition of the city-owned stadium, with the retained sections repurposed for green space, sports facilities, and entertainment venues. A new stadium—initially planned for 60,000 seats but now reportedly increased to over 70,000—would be constructed west of the current site, on land currently used for parking and a local park.
This time, the key difference is that Inter and Milan would purchase the land outright instead of leasing it. However, construction would not begin before the 2026 Winter Olympics, during which San Siro is set to host the opening ceremony.
“It will take a few years, and when the new stadium is ready, the clubs will renovate the old stadium, which in my opinion will remain as it is until 2030,” Sala added.
Urgency surrounds the sale, as a government protection order would automatically prevent the demolition of San Siro’s second tier if the stadium remains publicly owned beyond 2024. However, the proposal has sparked criticism from Milan city councillors, who accuse Sala of sidelining local democracy to push the deal forward.
In 2023, after the initial stadium project collapsed, AC Milan purchased land in San Donato Milanese for €40 million, while Inter explored potential sites in Rozzano and Assago, south of the city. If the clubs relocate, it would be a political setback for Sala’s administration and leave Milan with a massive, unused stadium that generates €7 million annually in rent.
Meanwhile, fans have expressed concerns that a new stadium could lead to higher ticket prices and an increase in corporate hospitality areas at the expense of affordable seating, despite both clubs regularly drawing over 70,000 supporters per match.
