Marotta: Italian football must look to Chelsea and Arsenal, hope new stadium ‘ready in 2030’

Inter President Giuseppe Marotta hopes the new San Siro will be ready in 2030 and insists Italian football must be ‘sustainable’ and look to young players like Chelsea and Arsenal.

Inter President Marotta spoke about the Nerazzurri’s plans for a new stadium during his last interview with DAZN.

“We’ve finally opened a pathway that will lead us far away. It’s not easy to act in Italy, where bureaucracy is often an obstacle,” Marotta said via TMW.

“We’ve taken on this new path with enthusiasm, and we’ll have a new home. It was very hard to buy San Siro, but thanks to Ralph and Scaroni’s tenacity, we reached the target. It will be a modern stadium that will firstly match the need for safety and hospitality.”

Inter and Milan have officially acquired the area of San Siro, including the iconic Stadio Meazza.

The new arena will be built near the existing stadium, the majority of which will be demolished. 

The Milanese sides hope the new stadium will be ready two years before Euro 2032, which Italy will co-host with Turkey.

“We want it to be ready in 2030, and I hope we’ll make it,” Marotta confirmed.

“I’m not saying it’s a dream, but the bureaucratic pathway is torturous. At the same time, I think Italy must be represented by Milan, and national politics must make sure the important games will be played in the new stadium.”

The new stadium will allow Nerazzurri and Rossoneri to close the financial gap with some of the wealthiest clubs in Europe.

“We earn €80m per season, same as Milan. Real Madrid and Barcelona reach between €250m and €300m,” Marotta noted.

“The Blancos’ target is to go beyond €500m. We can more than double matchday revenue, also with activities made during the week.”

Marotta was asked whether old infrastructures in Italy prevent the development of fresh talent such as Lamine Yamal in Spain.

“Surely yes. When we made an objective assessment of European stadiums, we didn’t talk about training centres, which we lack in Italy,” said the Inter president.

“We have old structures, but thanks to Oaktree’s foresight, and following our request, we have invested €100m in a new area. The structures play a key role in developing talent. If you play in a potato field, you won’t be inclined to accept suggestions from your coach.”

Are Inter looking at the examples of Chelsea and Arsenal in the recruitment of young players?

“The Blues have recently made changes; Arsenal had been doing it for some time,” concluded Marotta.

“At some point, the Gunners put their money into the stadium and not on the market, and it worked. Having this inclination towards young players is a concept of great sustainability, which all Italian clubs are forced to follow.”