Italian govt grants AC Milan's US owner Italian citizenship

The ultra-conservative government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday granted  Italian citizenship, for "special merits" to AC Milan's American owner Gerry Cardinale.

The proposal to grant Italian nationality to Cardinale, submitted by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, was approved at a Council of Ministers meeting and now needs to be submitted to Italy's honorary head of state, President Sergio Mattarella.

Cardinale founded RedBird Capital Partners in 2014. The American fund took control of AC Milan in 2022 for 1.2 billion euros.

RedBird is involved in the sports world in North America through iconic baseball franchise the Boston Red Sox, but is also active in Europe, with a minority stake in the English club Liverpool as well as control since 2020 of French Ligue 1 outfit Toulouse.

"Mr. Cardinale, founder of RedBird Capital Partners, the company that owns AC Milan, has strongly encouraged initiatives of solidarity and social inclusion through sports, promoting activities aimed particularly at young detainees, those in vulnerable situations, and those at risk of marginalisation," the government said.

AC Milan are placed third in Serie A, two points off leaders Napoli.

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