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AC Milan’s prospective new owners are lying about their finances
Milan’s sale negotiations are the nightmare that will never end.
Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
Last season, the sale of AC Milan to a group led by Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol appeared nearly complete for months. It never happened. This season, Chinese-led group Sino-Europe Sports got even closer to finalizing a purchase of Milan, and has put down a €100 million deposit. But unfortunately, they appear to have falsified financial information.
Sino-Europe Sports is accused of forging letters of support from Bank of Jiangsu and Dongguan Bank. Silvio Berlusconi, being just as much a fan of Milan as the owner, wanted to make sure he was turning over the club to a group with the financial clout and financial backing to improve the club in a way he couldn't. Given these accusations, it's unclear whether the new ownership group would be any better for the club than Berlusconi.
Milan’s ownership situation remains a huge mess, and Milan supporters are left waiting another year to find out if their club will ever have the foundation in place to become one of the top teams in Italy again.
Goal of the day
In the news
Jose Mourinho said he’d like to break Arsene Wenger’s face, so here’s a ranking of Premier League managers by fighting ability.
Argentina’s manager says Barcelona doesn’t look after Lionel Messi’s health. (AS)
It looks like America’s second division is going bust. (SI)
Seven Tottenham players have signed new contracts this season, the latest being Kyle Walker. (Cartilage Free Captain)
John Terry will miss out on this weekend’s game against Arsenal. (Guardian)
Aaron Ramsey will miss three more weeks. (ESPN FC)
The Republic of Ireland has handed Martin O’Neill a new contract. (BBC)
Keylor Navas will return to action this weekend. (Marca)
Wilfried Bony is being accused of having a bad attitude and poisoning the dressing room at Stoke. (Mirror)
You should be reading
Alexandra Phelan on the very different exits of Hope Solo and Heather O’Reilly from the USWNT. (Unusual Efforts)
Santokie Nagulendran on Sam Cox, a British footballer playing for Guyana. (The Set Pieces)
Graeme Ellis breaks down this week’s game between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid. (These Football Times)
What to watch this weekend
Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund vs. Freiburg (Friday, 2:30 p.m.) -- There might be no better entertainers in the world than Dortmund right now.
MLS: 10 games (Friday through Sunday) -- Games every day this weekend, with the best being Sounders vs. Galaxy on Sunday afternoon.
EPL: Nine games (Saturday and Sunday) -- Arsenal vs. Chelsea on Saturday is the best game. The 10 a.m. ET slate on Saturday is loaded with watchable stuff too.
La Liga: Las Palmas vs. Real Madrid (Saturday, 2:45 p.m.) -- Barcelona unfortunately overlaps with the EPL schedule, but Madrid comes afterward.
Serie A: Fiorentina vs. Milan (Sunday, 2:45 p.m.) -- Perhaps the best game on a weak Sunday slate.
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