Cardinale joy as AC Milan owner offered Italian citizenship

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Susy Campanale | Last updated Oct 9, 2025 3:07 PM ET

AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale is ‘profoundly honoured’ at a proposal to give him Italian citizenship. ‘My commitment to Italy is long-term.’

The American is the chief at the helm of RedBird, who are the majority shareholders of the Rossoneri.

He is also therefore going to be the main figure alongside Inter in purchasing the land around the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, then building a new San Siro arena.

Cardinale welcomed by Italian Government

It is with this in mind that Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi and Justice Minister Carlo Nordio proposed giving Cardinale citizenship as a reward for “initiatives of solidarity and social inclusion via sport, especially for young people who are incarcerated, in fragile conditions, or exposed to the risk of marginalisation.”

That was approved by the council of ministers, and can now move forward to the next stage.

“I am profoundly honoured by the proposal to give me Italian citizenship, and very grateful to the council of ministers for their favourable opinion,” Cardinale told news agency ANSA.

“My roots are in Italy, from both my mother and father, and I spent every summer here in my youth. My commitment to Italy is profound and long-term, so I give genuine thanks for this recognition.”

Cardinale has faced several months of angry protests from sections of the AC Milan supporters based on the way he has run the club, but those died down a little this season, with their improving results and performances.

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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