Owners of Chicago Cubs in talks to purchase AC Milan
Kluivert leaves Ajax for Roma
MILAN, June 23, (Agencies): The Ricketts family that owns the Chicago Cubs says it is negotiating to purchase the debt-ridden AC Milan soccer team.
The Milan office of the Edelman public relations firm, which has been hired to represent the Ricketts, says the entire family is interested in Milan for “a mediumto long-period investment” and wants to create “a strong bond with the city.”
The interest comes as seventime European champion Milan faces UEFA sanctions over a breach of financial fair play regulations.
Milan last year spent more than 200 million euros (then nearly $250 million) on new players amid questions over the financial stability of the Chinese-led consortium that purchased the club from Silvio Berlusconi for $800 million in April 2017.
Serie A team Milan took a loan from US private equity fund Elliott worth more than 300 million euros that club chairman Li Yonghong has struggled to pay back.
Milan qualified for the Europa League next season but risks being excluded as part of the possible sanctions.
The Ricketts family acquired a majority interest in the Cubs in 2009 and the team won the 2016 World Series under its guidance.
The Gazzetta dello Sport reports Saturday that there is also another American party — which it did not name — interested in purchasing Milan.
Thomas DiBenedetto, a partner in the Fenway Sports Group, which controls the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool, headed the group that took control of Roma in 2011. All-Star catcher Mike Piazza bought control of third-tier Reggiana in 2016.
Justin Kluivert, the son of former Barcelona and Newcastle striker Patrick, left Ajax for Roma for 17.25 million euros ($20mln) on Friday, the Serie A club announced.
The Dutch international winger penned a five-year contract with the Italian giants that runs until 30 June 2023.
Real Madrid have signed 19-year-old goalkeeper Andriy Lunin from Zorya Luhansk, the European champions announced on Saturday.
“He is distinguished by his size, 1.91 metres (6’3”), and has signed for six seasons,” Real wrote on their website, adding that Lunin was “young but experienced,” having already made his international debut.
According to the Spanish press, Lunin will start with Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s B team which plays in the Spanish second division.
With the club also pursuing Brazil’s World Cup goalkeeper Alisson Becker of Roma, who is 25, the youngster’s arrival increases the pressure on Costa Rican Keylor Navas, who started for Real in the Champions League final and is 31.
Kluivert
Los Angeles FC seeks to continue its unbeaten streak at home when the Columbus Crew visits on Saturday.
The first-year club is 2-0-3 at Banc of California Stadium playing in front of enthusiastic sellouts of 22,000. This will be the first meeting with the Crew, one of the original MLS franchises from 1996.
“The excitement of the crowd, the quality of the stadium will be fun to see,” Crew midfielder and captain Wil Trapp said. “Look, we’re going there to get three points. That’s the point of this trip.”
After a 2-0 home loss to Atlanta United on June 13, Columbus (7-4-6) has a loss and four ties in its last five matches.
The Crew are third in the Eastern Conference while LAFC (7-43) holds the same position in the West.
“They’re a team that can score in multiple ways,” Trapp said. “For a team that’s in their first year they’re very organized. (Coach) Bob Bradley has them very confident, playing well.”