Five long years have gone by since AC Milan and Inter first announced their commitment to a joint stadium project on the site of their existing Stadio Giuseppe Meazza / Stadio San Siro home. Now, though, with the local authorities even placing an anti-demolition order on the iconic Scala del Calcio, the Derby della Madonnina rivals are determined to go their own ways with their own respective projects.
As far back as 2018, a joint statement by the Rossoneri and Nerazzurri hierarchies proclaimed that: “there are several possible options, including the renovation of the San Siro. We believe we can conclude this first exploratory phase by the end of the year.”
However, despite the eagerness of the two clubs to carve out a bold new future together, the options that were available have eventually seen Inter and AC Milan decide to go their separate ways.
Why aren’t AC Milan and Inter building a new stadium together?
Since announcing their desired collaboration for the Cattedrale project, both AC Milan and Inter have grown frustrated, scuppering plans.
That venture would have seen a 60,680 all-seater stadium replace the existing 80,000 giant, but a wide range of additional facilities would also have been constructed at the same time. Those included a new sports facility, a tower to host the clubs’ offices, a community centre, and a shopping district that would lead fans on their walk to the stadium.
With impatient building contractors and potential investors forced to wait by the City of Milan, the relationship between the two clubs also strained and AC Milan are now planning a move away to the San Donato area of the city, while Inter will look to set up home in Rozzano (location here).
Did AC Milan window shopping also damage relations?
Ahead of the decision to settle in San Donato, the Rossoneri had been evaluating options in the La Maura area, much closer to the current site of the San Siro. This, though, irritated Inter CEO Alessandro Antonello, who was quick to comment.
“The main option remains the Stadio San Siro, together with Milan, but they have officially communicated a formal interest in the La Maura area,” Antonello told La Gazzetta Dello Sport at the time. “This will require a few days of analysis by AC Milan, before meeting again, to understand if that area will be the subject of development or if we will proceed together.”
After that point, the two Milanese giants never reunited in their plans.
In April 2023, AC Milan president Paolo Scaroni hit out at the ongoing discussion around the duo continuing to share facilities.
“Now even the most obvious things become the subject of debate,” lamented Scaroni. “People ask me why we don’t renovate the San Siro? Because it is an old and obsolete stadium.
“There is no facility near Milan that can accommodate Inter and AC Milan. In short, it cannot be done. We have to create spectacle, and build stadiums that are beautiful to look at.”
