AC Milan have paid respect to Silvio Berlusconi, the club’s former owner who has passed away at the age of 86.
The former Italian prime minister from Milan acquired the team in 1986 and prevented it from going bankrupt. Under his leadership, the Rossoneri won eight Serie A championships and five European Cups.
The controversial businessman eventually rose to the position of president of Monza, who earned promotion back to the top flight through the play-offs in 2022, and was still in the role at the time of his death.
Despite receiving leukemia treatment earlier this year, Berlusconi was reportedly hospitalised last week and passed away on Monday morning.
In a statement posted to their Twitter page, Milan said: “Deeply saddened, AC Milan grieves the passing of the unforgettable Silvio Berlusconi and wishes to reach out to the family, associates, and most cherished friends to share our sympathies.
Former AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has passed away aged 86.
AC Milan won 29 trophies in 31 years under Berlusconi as president and owner.
RIP 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/iPJmWUil7u
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 12, 2023
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“Tomorrow, we will dream of new ambitions, create new challenges and seek new victories.
“Which will represent the good, the strong, and the true that lies inside us, in all of us who shared this adventure of binding our lives to a dream called Milan. Thank you, Mr President. Always with us.”
Berlusconi ran the Serie A giants from 1986 to 2017 before selling to a Chinese investment management company.
What Others Said
Carlo Ancelotti, who played for and later managed Milan during Berlusconi’s reign, posted a message of sympathy.
“Today’s sadness doesn’t erase the happy moments spent together,” wrote Ancelotti, who won two league titles and two European Cups as a player at the San Siro before going on to lead them to the league title and two Champions League successes as manager.
Monza, meanwhile, also paid their respects to Belusconi, who took control of the club in 2018 through holding company Fininvest.
‘A void that can never be filled, forever with us. Thank you for everything President’,” read a message on the club’s Twitter account.
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