Berlusconi and the genesis of the great Milan: the 'no' of his seer, Gullit's harangue and the Vélodrome scandal

On February 10, 1986, Silvio Berlusconi bought Milan for 25 billion lire.. A delicate decision, not so much because of the money, but because with it he contravened the advice of Moro, his bedside seer, who had been warning him for a long time about the jinx carried by the rossoneri. Nothing remained of that European champion (1963, 1969), besieged by debts and still bruised by his recent relegation to Serie B. Such was the influence of Moro that Berlusconi had come to consider the option of Inter. And if that operation did not come to fruition, it was rather due to the iron refusal of Ivanoe Fraizzoli, Nerazzurri president. Berlusconi, therefore, had nothing left but to challenge the bad luck.

On July 18, 1986, between the chords of The Ride of the Valkyries, Il Cavaliere landed by helicopter on the Arena Civica in Milan to launch his first speech as owner: «Although expensive, this club for me is a matter of the heart. Remember that beautiful women also cost money.

The owner of the fledgling media empire Finninvest already saw football as the best magnet for television audiences. A business of overflowing passions with which to gear your money-making machine. But also a propaganda device with which to associate their image with that of an immortal team. That's why he chose Arrigo Sacchi. A revolutionary and arrogant trainer, maniacal and countercultural, known in the world as the Prophet of Fusignano.

Conflicts with Van Basten

“In my football, the leader is the idea of the game and the collective. You can have the best musicians and soloists, but you will not hear any melody if they are not coordinated by a director and a score, “said Sacchi, a lover of Rinus Michels' Ajax to whom Berlusconi gave not only Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi or Roberto Donadoni. , but with the most select of Dutch football.

The overwhelming superiority of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard against Real Madrid in the semifinals of the 1989 European Cup put the entire continent on alert. However, in the preview of the final against Steaua, the influential journalist Gianni Brera still allowed himself to suggest that the chances of success lay through catenaccio and counterattacks. Sacchi cut out his article to show it to his players. Gullit, outraged, launched an incendiary harangue in the locker room. That 4-0 at the Camp Nou is still considered today one of the greatest exhibitions of the tournament.

However, Sacchi's infernal physical and tactical demands wreaked havoc on Van Basten, a guy not very used to being pushed.. Berlusconi, aware of the situation, had to mediate more than once. Until one night, in Verona, he got fed up with the matter: “Some of you may not be here next year, but Sacchi will”. Because if anything defined President Berlusconi -apart from his unwavering faith in his project, no matter how much he strayed from the current- it was his blood pacts.

outrageous payouts

Adriano Galliani, Ariedo Braida or Silvano Ramaccioni, courtly advisers on football issues, learned loyalty the hard way. All faithful, even in the worst circumstances. Like that March 21, 1991 at the Velodrome in Marseille, the most unfortunate night for Milan when, after a blackout, Galliani withdrew the team citing security reasons.. UEFA would separate the team for a year from its competitions, disqualifying Galliani for another year. In any case, even then it was necessary to immolate oneself in the name of Sua Emittenza.

The cycle of the great Milan would close in 1994 with Fabio Capello, another character that Berlusconi had pulled out of his sleeve. A colossal 4-0 to bury Johan Cruyff's most brilliant Barça. Already at that time, focused on politics, Berlusconi followed football matters from a certain distance.. His missteps, such as the multimillion-dollar transfer of Gianluigi Lentini or the closure with Fernando de Napoli, signed only to take it away from his rivals, gave way to a transition. The last golden age would come with Carlo Ancelotti, a risky bet, since he had not made the grade with Inter and Juventus. The clairvoyant bets for Clarence Seedorf, Andrea Pirlo or Kaká were worth another two more Champions.