A source said that former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi "is to sign a binding pre-accord to sell 48 percent of his AC Milan" football club to Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol in the next few days, "with a final deal to be inked after the summer," according to Claudia Cristoferi of REUTERS. The Serie A club "is owned by Fininvest, Berlusconi's family holding company which also controls Italian TV broadcaster Mediaset and publisher Mondadori."
Berlusconi "gave his blessing to sell the stake to a consortium led by Taechaubol in June, giving the prospective buyer eight weeks of exclusive talks to finalize a deal." This deadline "expires at the end of July" (REUTERS, 7/30).
THE OTHER MILAN CLUB: YUTANG SPORTS reported Inter Milan "has taken another big step" toward deepening its ties with China following its announcement of a "five-year partnership deal with Yitao Shanghai Football Club." The two sides "will co-found the first Inter Academy project in Shanghai." The initial phase "will involve 30 training centres, with the aim of reaching 100 football schools by the end of the year."
Under the agreement, Inter will send a coaching team "to improve the technical and tactical skills of the youngsters in the Academy." Coaches and youth players in Yitao Shanghai Football Club "will also get the opportunity to participate in Inter’s training programs and events in Italy" (YUTANG SPORTS, 7/30).
