Chinese investors interested in buying Serie A side AC Milan reportedly "want an answer from President Silvio Berlusconi by this Wednesday," according to FOOTBALL ITALIA. The "skepticism of the Italian tycoon has been a factor behind the numerous setbacks in the projected sale of Milan." The Chinese conglomerate responded by leaving a deposit of €150M ($173M) "as a guarantee that the financial resources behind the operation were reliable." Berlusconi is "expected to agree or disagree to a preliminary deal for the club's sale" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 5/2). In a separate piece, FOOTBALL ITALIA reported Chinese magnate Jack Ma, who "initially denied being interested in buying Milan, is now being linked to the sale again." The tycoon "denied any involvement via a message on social media, claiming that he didn't even know where Milan were based." It "seems that the disclaimer may have been deliberately misleading." Apparently Ma will not be "investing through his company Alibaba Sports Group, but rather indirectly, as one of the shareholders for the Evergrande Real Estate Group, the company which is actually expected to buy the club" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 5/2).
