With their Champions League dream dying have AC Milan’s Chinese owners seen any progress one year in?

Suspicion still surrounds takeover and despite heavy investment Italian giants still have to overhaul Roma and Inter to reach promised land

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Chinese businessman and new owner of AC Milan Li Yonghong (right) before the Milan derby in April 2017, his first game as owner. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:17pm, 13 Apr 2018Updated: 1:17pm, 13 Apr 2018

“Today we celebrate the start of a new chapter in the history of this glorious club,” was how Chinese businessman Li Yonghong announced himself to the world as the new owner and president of Italian Serie A side AC Milan one year ago.

His Rossoneri Sports Investment Lux bought a controlling stake in the club for €740 million (US$912.4 million), ending the 31-year reign of Silvio Berlusconi. Li marked his first anniversary with an open letter to AC Milan fans published in English, Italian and Chinese on the club’s official website.

Li took the opportunity to stress his team were “fully committed” to the project while looking back at the first year.

AC Milan's Italian midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura reacts to a miss in the Serie A match against Sassuolo this month. Photo: AFP

“Many things happened during the past 12 months. Last summer, we pursued with true passion the most important financial investment in the club’s history, building the current young, talented and challenging team, led by Rino Gattuso, a passionate and inspirational head coach who has my full support, the support of the management team, of all AC Milan people and, I’m sure, of all fans worldwide.”

Earlier this season, Milan replaced coach Vincenzo Montella with Gennaro Gattuso, another former player. The ex-manager said at the time he was surprised by his sacking in November with the club seventh in the table and 11 points behind fourth-placed Roma and Uefa Champions League qualification.

There has been a slight improvement under the new boss.

With their Champions League dream dying have AC Milan’s Chinese owners seen any progress one year in?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Suspicion still surrounds takeover and despite heavy investment Italian giants still have to overhaul Roma and Inter to reach promised land

Suspicion still surrounds takeover and despite heavy investment Italian giants still have to overhaul Roma and Inter to reach promised land