Both Milan football clubs could come under Chinese ownership "if reports are correct that AC Milan could be sold within eight weeks and if Suning Commerce Group complete on a proposed acquisition" of a stake in Inter Milan, according to Paul Nicholson of INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL. AC Milan Owner Silvio Berlusconi has for some time been expected to sell out to Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol, but "those talks have apparently broken down" with Berlusconi having said that he "must make a formal bid by the end of the season." Waiting "in the wings is a Chinese consortium" prepared to pay between €600M ($679M)-€700M ($792M) for the club. The club's financial broker, Galatioto Sports Partners President Salvatore Galatioto, said, "For obvious reasons I cannot reveal who the potential buyer is. I can only say that it is a Chinese group that has big ambitions and that is very, very interested in the club." Inter Milan majority Owner Erick Thohir is "expected to unveil its own Chinese investor in Suning Commerce Group." Suning recently bought Chinese Super League side Jiangsu, is "looking at European expansion with a 20% stake in the Serie A club" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 4/18).
