Reports say AC Milan Owner Silvio Berlusconi "will grant Chinese investors exclusivity by the end of the week, but a final decision won’t arrive for a month." A group of bidders "wanted an answer by Wednesday, with further reports again linking Chinese magnate Jack Ma to the club."
Corriere della Sera wrote that Berlusconi "has taken a bit of extra time to reflect, but should sign an exclusivity agreement with the group on Thursday or Friday" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 5/3).
FRANCHISE BRIEFS ...
Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg told its players they "will have to take part" in the club's postseason tour of China even if they are due to feature at Euro 2016 or the Copa America. Wolfsburg is "set to tour China from May 16 to May 22."
Wolfsburg has three Germany internationals on its books in Andre Schurrle, Julian Draxler and Max Kruse and, should they be included in Joachim Low's squad this summer, they "will be expected to join up with the national side when preparations begin on May 23" (ESPN, 5/3).
Inter Milan VP Javier Zanetti said that the Suning Group’s interest is "an honor for us." Zanetti: "We won’t do anything that could be damaging."
The Suning Commerce Group is currently "in talks to buy a stake" in the club, with reports saying it will pay €80M ($92M) for 20-30%.
Zanetti: "The fact that a delegation from China came in, above all a strong and serious group, is an honor for us" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 5/3).
