Milan owner Cardinale appeals to fans ahead of key Sunday match
Quick summary
AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale has made a public appeal to fans, calling for unity and victory in Sunday's upcoming match amid ongoing pressure on the club's direction.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceMilan owner Gerry Cardinale is still trying to win over the supporters who protested and urged RedBird to sell the club, so stopped to sign autographs and send a positive message. ‘Let’s win Sunday.’
The patron has had a difficult time since taking over the Serie A giants in August 2022, when his company RedBird bought the majority shares from Elliott Management.
His approach has often grated with the local fans, who got progressively angrier until staging loud protests outside the club’s Christmas dinner.
Cardinale taking control of Milan MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 03: Gerry Cardinale of AC Milan looks on before the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 03, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Cardinale decided to take control of the situation in May , and the day after failing to qualify for the Champions League, he sacked coach Max Allegri, director of sport Igli Tare, CEO Giorgio Furlani and technical director Geoffrey Moncada in one fell swoop.
He has been taking a far more hands on approach to running Milan, which included frequent visits to the Milanello training ground via helicopter, reminiscent of Silvio Berlusconi’s heyday.
Cardinale put the helicopter aside today and stopped his car at the gates to say hello to a group of waiting fans , sign autographs and pose for selfies.
“Let’s win Sunday,” he told them, referring to this weekend’s opening Serie A fixture of the season against Torino.
Immagine storica: il proprietario del #Milan Gerry Cardinale si ferma a salutare i tifosi a Milanello. “Let’s win sunday!” @tvdellosport pic.twitter.com/SCgynHI5LM
— Francesco Letizia (@fraletizia) August 21, 2026
The situation remains tense with the ultras, many of whom jeered and insulted him after he attended Milan legend Franco Baresi’s funeral.
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What happened
AC Milan patron Gerry Cardinale has reached out to supporters in an attempt to rebuild goodwill, urging the fanbase to rally behind the team for Sunday's fixture. The move comes amid a turbulent period for the Rossoneri, with fan discontent over the club's strategic direction and on-pitch performances. Cardinale's message frames Sunday's match as a unifying moment for the club, signaling awareness of the growing tension between ownership and the supporter base. The appeal suggests Milan are under pressure to deliver a result to ease scrutiny on Cardinale's stewardship.
Chance analysis
When a club's owner steps in front of the cameras to ask fans for unity, it usually means the relationship has frayed enough to need mending. Cardinale's direct appeal reflects a club feeling the weight of supporter frustration, and it puts Sunday's result under a brighter spotlight than the fixture itself might otherwise warrant. For Milan, the pressure on the squad to deliver a performance that quiets the noise around the ownership is now an added layer beyond the tactical matchup itself.
Heightened pressure on AC Milan to deliver a result on Sunday to ease tensions between ownership and supporters.