A final decision over the proposed sale of AC Milan to Bee Taechaubol is expected on Saturday morning, when current owner Silvio Berlusconi has invited the Thai broker round for brunch, according to reports.
After another day in which Taechaubol's every movement was being scrutinised by the Italian media -- with rolling online blogs and reporters kept permanently on the line by Sky Sport 24 -- a breakthrough appeared to have been made on Friday afternoon.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Berlusconi has finally made the call Taechaubol has been waiting for since leaving Berlusconi's residence in Arcore on Wednesday night. He has been invited back to Arcore on Saturday morning, before his scheduled flight back to Bangkok.
Berlusconi's 29-year ownership of the Serie A club could then come to an end.
The 78-year-old has spent the last 36 hours mulling over a reported €500 million offer for the Rossoneri. His closest aides and allies have all been seen passing through his residence's gates, although Taechaubol has not been among them.
General manager Adriano Galliani was the last to leave on Friday afternoon, after Berlusconi's daughter Barbara released a statement denying reports she and Galliani had taken contrasting views of the proposed sale.
"[Barbara] has the sole interest in the club's well-being as well as that of its fans," read the statement issued by her management. "Barbara Berlusconi remains, therefore, equidistant from the scenarios of an eventual sale (partial or total) or the maintaining of the club by Fininvest, also because the only person who will decide the future of AC Milan, as has always been the case in the past 29 years, is the president Silvio Berlusconi."
An official announcement is expected either on Friday evening or, at the latest, following Berlusconi's brunch with Taechaubol on Saturday.