San Siro Sale Sparks Controversy as Bid-Rigging Inquiry Follows €197 Million Deal

Key Takeaways:

• Prosecutors launched a bid-rigging investigation just one hour after the €197 million San Siro sale was finalised
• Inter and AC Milan completed the purchase of the stadium and surrounding land, ending 77 years of municipal ownership
• Italian officials and club presidents have criticised the timing and necessity of the inquiry, emphasising their transparency

Historic Ownership Transfer Overshadowed by Immediate Inquiry

The landmark €197 million acquisition of the San Siro Stadium and its adjoining land by Inter and AC Milan from the Municipality of Milan has been quickly engulfed in controversy after Milan prosecutors initiated an investigation into suspected bid-rigging just one hour after the official signing. This development has provoked strong reactions from both Inter president Beppe Marotta and Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala, who have both publicly condemned what they described as “worrying timing” of the probe.

San Siro's sale to Milan and Inter is under investigation for rigging, report @Gazzetta_ithttps://t.co/g116MYNvC1

— Get Italian Football News (@_GIFN) November 5, 2025

Details of the Transaction and Accusations

The completed deal brings an end to 77 years of public ownership, placing one of football’s most storied venues in the hands of its long-term tenants. Both clubs now aim to advance plans for a modern 71,500-seat arena designed by Foster + Partners and MANICA Architecture – the same architectural firm overseeing the new Manchester United stadium project.

Celebrations marking this transition had barely begun when the Milan prosecutor’s office revealed their formal inquiry into the sale’s tender process. Beppe Marotta articulated his dismay at the Football Business Forum, stating: “The deed was signed at noon, and an hour later, the investigation opened. This is Italy.”

Describing the deal as “a historic event” and “a step towards financial self-sufficiency”, Marotta contrasted the efficiency of European processes with what he sees as the cumbersome bureaucracy of Italy, underscored by the investigation’s timing.

Reactions from City and National Leadership

Milan’s mayor Giuseppe Sala also strongly defended the process, pointing out that city authorities followed all required protocols. “We did everything right, respecting the rules. Once we received the expression of interest, we kept the tender open for the necessary time,” Sala declared during the Lombardy at the Heart of the Olympic Challenge event.

The Italian Minister for Sport, Andrea Abodi, echoed these sentiments, insisting that infrastructural developments – including the San Siro project and Euro 2032 preparations – are being managed openly and in the public’s interest.

“Suddenly, something is happening that hasn’t happened for 30 years, and it doesn’t just concern Euro 2032: in Italy we have a dozen open construction sites that we will manage with the extraordinary commissioner Sessa, and I think this is an extraordinary result. What has been done in Milan has significant value, beyond its economic dimension, because it seeks to improve the city and the nation, unlike someone who, on a political or judicial level, attempts to question a path that is in everyone’s interest.”

At the heart of the probe is concern that alternative parties, including Claudio Trotta of the Si Meazza Committee, were not afforded sufficient opportunity to submit competing offers. Trotta maintains that “other consortiums were never given a fair chance,” which has triggered the official investigation into whether the short tender window was exclusionary.

San Siro’s Legacy and the Next Chapter

Following its construction in 1926 and multiple expansions, the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza has symbolised Milan’s sporting heritage, having witnessed World Cups, Champions League finals, and iconic derbies. With the sale finalised, both clubs will continue to share the current ground until the new state-of-the-art stadium is completed – scheduled ahead of Euro 2032.

The redevelopment blueprint features green zones, shops, and leisure amenities, transforming the stadium district into a year-round destination. Inter and Milan have jointly described the transaction as “a new chapter for the city of Milan and Italian football,” while acknowledging fans’ mixed emotions about the loss of such a storied ground.

Milan president Paolo Scaroni admitted the emotional complexities involved, commenting: “It was a difficult process, not only because of the bureaucracy but also because people didn’t want a new stadium out of nostalgia. But today, if someone wants to go to San Siro, it’s almost scary, when there’s no match, it’s almost deserted. And instead, we want a stadium that can host something every day.”

Future Plans and Lingering Doubts

Inter and AC Milan are pressing ahead with the €1.2-1.5 billion stadium project, designed to achieve UEFA’s most stringent standards and provide a sustainable revenue stream. The new structure will blend futuristic amenities with tributes to the original San Siro.

However, substantial hurdles remain. The demolition of a landmark venue faces vocal public resistance, and the ongoing legal uncertainty could disrupt the construction timeline. Even as city officials insist that the month-long tender process met all legal and procedural standards, the investigation into whether it was unduly compressed continues.