AC Milan Owner Silvio Berlusconi "signed a preliminary agreement" to sell 30% of the club to Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol following a meeting, according to the AFP. Speculation surrounding the sale or part sale of the seven-time European champions "has swirled in recent months with Taechaubol now touted as the leading contender to purchase a sizeable share" in the club. Last month Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin "entered the fray as a possible investor." But a report in Sunday's La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed Berlusconi and Taechaubol held a meeting at Berlusconi's family home in Arcore last week where a "preliminary agreement was put down in black and white." The deal "would see Taechaubol acquire a 30% share in the club" at the end of May for €250M ($271M). If Berlusconi goes back on the decision "he would be liable to pay a penalty amounting to 10% of the price" of the €250M stake. Taechaubol "admitted his interest in the club last month." Fininvest last month "played down reports Berlusconi had rejected an offer" of €970M ($1.1B) for the embattled Serie A club but was willing to sell a minority stake if it came with a pledge to help build a new stadium (AFP, 3/8).
