Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 9y

AC Milan takeover to be completed soon, Thai businessman claims

AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi is set to sell his majority stake in the Serie A club next weekend, according to Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol.

Taechaubol declared on Sunday that he would be watching the Milan derby, before announcing later that he would be flying to the city next weekend to conclude negotiations which commenced last October.

"Next Sunday, April 26, I'll be in Milan to seal and conclude the deal," he said in quotes carried by La Repubblica.

When Taechaubol first met with Berlusconi last year, it was reported a preliminary agreement had been reached, although Berlusconi had agreed on a cooling off period to enable him the right to reject the deal before it would be made official in the summer.

The investor has already made two trips to Italy and been photographed behind Berlusconi as he signed a document, believed to be a pre-contract agreement, in January.

Berlusconi's Fininvest conglomerate had previously denied in March that the Milan president had already sold his majority share to Taechaubol.

His third trip next weekend could bring an end to speculation about the club's future, with Berlusconi's 29-year reign set to come to an end.

Milan are currently ninth in Serie A after Sunday's goalless derby draw against Inter and, with seven games of the season remaining, they need to make up seven points on fifth-placed Sampdoria to avoid a second straight season without European football.

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