MILAN: AC Milan and Inter Milan moved a step closer to building their own stadium as they announced on Tuesday the design for the new San Siro.
“The Cathedral” project by Populous was chosen over Manica-Cmr Sportium’s “The Rings of Milano” design.
“The new San Siro will be the most beautiful stadium in the world for its strong identity and recognizability,” AC Milan president Paolo Scaroni said. “An attractive arena, accessible and sustainable for the city of Milan that will facilitate the growth of the clubs and their global competitiveness.”
It means the beginning of the end for the iconic Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — commonly referred to as San Siro — where the two rival teams currently play their home matches.
The new stadium will be built next to the Meazza, which is expected to be partially demolished and turned into a smaller arena after it hosts the opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The project, which will be finalized next year, is called “The Cathedral” because it was inspired by Milan’s cathedral — the Duomo di Milano — as well as the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.
No timeline has been given but Scaroni told The Associated Press recently that he expected it to be finished by 2024 or 2025.
The stadium will be part of a new district dedicated to sport and leisure that will include extensive green space.
Populous designed Tottenham’s stadium as well as Wembley Stadium in London and Yankee Stadium in New York.
“The Cathedral is set to become one of the most iconic stadiums in the world ... and will become the heart of a new neighborhood,” said Christopher Lee, the company’s managing director for the region. “It will celebrate the cultural heritage of Milan and it will be enjoyed by the Milanese population for many generations to come. A stadium of Milan and for Milan.”
Milan clubs choose ‘Cathedral’ design for new San Siro
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Milan clubs choose ‘Cathedral’ design for new San Siro
- The project is called ‘The Cathedral’ because it was inspired by Milan’s cathedral — the Duomo di Milano
- It means the beginning of the end for the iconic Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — commonly referred to as San Siro
Pablo Mari joins Al-Hilal from Serie A side Fiorentina
- Former Arsenal defender will bolster the SPL leaders with Kalidou Koulibaly still away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal
RIYADH: Al-Hilal on Sunday officially announced that former Arsenal defender Pablo Mari has signed from Serie A side Fiorentina. The player immediately joined his new colleagues in a training session.
The move will bolster Al-Hilal’s defence, with Kalidou Koulibaly still away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, who face Egypt in the semi-finals on Wednesday night.
Mari has played 16 games with Fiorentina in all competitions this season.
“Al-Hilal have signed a contract with Spanish defender Pablo Mari to join Al-Hilal from Italian club Fiorentina on a six-month contract, with an option to extend for another year,” Al-Hilal announced in a statement.
The 32-year-old defender won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2020 and lifted the Copa Libertadores with Brazil’s Flamengo in 2019.
The Spanish centre-half started his career at Mallorca, where he was a product of the club’s youth academy. In 2013, he moved to Gimnastic in the third tier of Spanish football, where he spent three years before Manchester City signed him in August of 2016.
Mari was immediately loaned out to Girona on a one-year deal, and he would also have similar stints at NAC Breda in the Netherlands and Deportivo La Coruna in Spain in the following two campaigns.
The series of loan spells were ended when he joined Flamengo on a permanent deal in 2019, but after a season at the Brazilian club which led to continental success, Mari was loaned out to Arsenal in the January transfer window at the start of 2020.
After winning the FA Cup a few months after joining, the move to the North London club was made permanent. However, his spell at the Emirates led to further loans spells at Udinese and Monza, with the latter securing his services on a full-time basis in May of 2023.
Fiorentina signed Mari in January of 2025 before his latest move to Riyadh was announced.
