Cardinale Explains Why He Is Happy with Milan Investment: The Yankees of Italian Soccer

FolioPitch.com – 08 October 2026 | Gerry Cardinale has made it abundantly clear: he has no regrets about acquiring AC Milan. In a revealing interview at the Bloomberg Screentime 2026 event on October 1st, the RedBird Capital founder and Milan owner explained why he is happy with his Milan investment, famously dubbing the club ‘The Yankees of Italian soccer.’ Cardinale explains why he is happy with Milan investment The Yankees of Italian soccer, and his enthusiasm for the project remains undiminished despite the club’s on-field struggles since their 2022 Scudetto triumph.

RedBird Capital took control of Milan from Elliott Management in 2022, shortly after the Rossoneri clinched their first Serie A title in over a decade. While the financial groundwork has been solid, the trophy cabinet has not been replenished as quickly as many supporters had hoped. Nevertheless, Cardinale insists that the club’s potential is enormous and that he is in it for the long haul. ‘There are no signs of RedBird selling the club on any time soon,’ he said, pointing to major projects such as the new stadium and the NBA Europe initiative that could drive revenues back toward Europe’s elite clubs.

When asked which sports team he would buy today if money were no object, Cardinale did not hesitate. ‘I’ll be honest. It might sound obvious, but I’ll tell you about Milan,’ he said. ‘It’s one of the most important cities in Europe, incredibly important in the fashion industry. They’re the New York Yankees of Italian soccer, and Italian soccer was what the Premier League is today.’ This comparison underscores his belief that Milan, like the Yankees in baseball, is a iconic global brand with a rich history and a massive fanbase.

Cardinale’s investment strategy revolves around identifying assets that need fixing and accelerating their return to former glory. ‘My investment strategy is to go where there’s something that needs fixing and do it, accelerating the process to bring them back to where they were before,’ he explained. ‘European soccer is a huge opportunity. I think everything in America is terribly overpriced right now.’ He sees European football as undervalued relative to its global appeal, and Milan as a prime candidate for revitalization.

However, Cardinale also acknowledged the cultural differences that make European sports challenging. ‘The challenge in Europe is that they don’t particularly like entertainment; when it comes to sports, they don’t accept compromises,’ he noted. ‘What I’m trying to explain to Europe is that entertainment is needed to finance sports.’ This philosophy is driving his ambitious plans for Milan, which extend far beyond the pitch.

Central to Cardinale’s vision is the construction of a new state-of-the-art stadium. ‘We bought San Siro, the iconic stadium in Milan, and we’ll build another stadium with 80,000 spectators,’ he revealed. ‘And then we hope to bring the NBA team to Milan, build an NBA arena. We’ll create a Milanese sports and entertainment platform, which should accelerate the growth of Italian soccer to reach levels similar to those of the Premier League.’ This integrated approach aims to transform Milan into a hub for sports and entertainment, generating new revenue streams and elevating the club’s global profile.

Since the summer, Cardinale has taken a more hands-on role at the club, signaling his deep commitment to the project. His vision for Milan is not just about winning trophies but about building a sustainable, financially powerful institution that can compete with the giants of the Premier League. The new stadium and the potential NBA franchise are key pillars of this strategy.

In conclusion, Gerry Cardinale’s conviction in his Milan investment remains unwavering. He sees the club as a sleeping giant, ripe for transformation, and he is determined to restore its glory through innovative business strategies and infrastructure development. As he continues to explain why he is happy with Milan investment The Yankees of Italian soccer, it is clear that his ambitions for the Rossoneri are as grand as the club’s storied history. For Milan fans, the promise of a new stadium, an NBA arena, and a return to European dominance is a tantalizing prospect. Only time will tell if Cardinale’s vision materializes, but for now, he is fully committed to the cause.