AC Milan’s majority owner RedBird Capital Partners has refuted claims that it is looking to sell a portion of its stake in the Italian football club. This comes in response to a report by Italian newspaper Repubblica, which suggested that RedBird had been offering a 22% stake in Milan to potential investors since May 2024.
According to the Repubblica report, Washington Harbour, an investment and financial consulting firm, had been circulating a commercial document on behalf of RedBird to potential investors, offering the opportunity to purchase a 22% share of the club’s capital.
However, a spokesperson for RedBird has strongly denied these claims. Speaking to Reuters, the spokesperson stated that Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of RedBird, “is not familiar with Washington Harbour and the document cited by the newspaper cannot be attributed to him.” Washington Harbour has not immediately responded to Reuters’ request for comment on the reported news.
This denial comes at a crucial time for RedBird and AC Milan. The investment firm, which currently owns approximately 96% of the club, is facing a significant financial milestone. By August 31, 2025, RedBird must repay a loan to Elliott Management, the previous owners of Milan. This vendor loan, amounting to 560 million euros with an 8% interest rate, was used to finance RedBird’s acquisition of the club two years ago.
The next ten months are expected to be pivotal in determining the future direction of AC Milan. As the loan repayment deadline approaches, there will likely be increased scrutiny on RedBird’s financial strategy and its long-term plans for one of Italy’s most storied football clubs.
