Franchise Notes: Monaco Owner Interested In AC Milan Takeover

The "mysterious" Russian investor in negotiations to take over Serie A side AC Milan from Li Yonghong is reportedly Ligue 1 club Monaco Owner Dmitry Rybolovlev. According to Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore, the man rivaling American Rocco Commisso for the purchase of the club is "a billionaire already known to football fans." This "could prove to be an issue," as there are UEFA rules regarding two clubs being under the same ownership (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 7/8).

Atlético Madrid and Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Be'er Sheva announced on Sunday "the opening of a youth academy in southern Israel." The Beersheba academy "seeks to boost the quality of the Israeli team's youth system." Atlético CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín spoke of the "importance of the academy as a center of tolerance through sport." Marín said, "The main objective is that this academy is open to people of all religions and cultures" (JERUSALEM POST, 7/8).