貝盧斯科尼正式確認中國財團收購AC米蘭

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he has sold the soccer club AC Milan to a Chinese consortium.

據意大利前總理西爾維奧·貝盧斯科尼日前透露，他已經將AC米蘭出售給了一家中國財團。

He said they will be paying at least 400m euro (220m pound) over the next two years, which may value the club at up to 750m euro including debt. "Milan has now embarked on this path towards China," he said without disclosing the identity of the buyers.

貝盧斯科尼表示，在接下來的兩年裏他們將最少獲得4億歐元（約合2.2億英鎊），這將使得這傢俱樂部連帶債務在內的價值達到7.5億歐元。不過貝盧斯科尼並沒有透露買家的身份，他說道：“AC米蘭已經走在了通往中國的道路上。”

Berlusconi, 79, has served as prime minister four times but was convicted of tax fraud and bribery.

今年79歲的貝盧斯科尼曾4次當選爲意大利總理，但也曾因逃稅和收受賄賂而被判有罪。

His family holding company Fininvest reportedly entered into exclusive talks with the Chinese investor group in May. The consortium is looking to buy 80% of the club immediately before eventually taking over the remainder.

他的家族把持着菲寧威特公司，據報道，這家公司是在今年五月份的時候和中國投資團隊進行了獨家談判。該財團希望能夠立刻收購AC米蘭俱樂部80%的股份，隨後再接收剩下的部分。

AC Milan is one of Europe's most successful clubs but is seeking new capital to enable it to better compete against other well-funded rivals. It posted a loss of 93.5m euro ($104m) last year.

AC米蘭是歐洲最成功的足球俱樂部之一，但是近年來卻在尋求新資本，來使得自己能夠更好地和其他財力雄厚的對手競爭。去年該俱樂部共計虧損了9350萬歐元（約合1.04億美元）。

Berlusconi came close to selling a majority stake in AC Milan to a Thai businessman last year but changed his mind.

去年，貝盧斯科尼差點就將AC米蘭的大部分股份賣給了一個泰國商人，但是最後他改變了主意。

Many European teams are now owned or bankrolled by wealthy Asian or Middle Eastern investors or companies. Local rival Inter Milan was sold to Chinese electronics retailer Suning Commerce Group last month. And last month Chinese businessman Dr Tony Xia completed his 76m pound takeover of club Aston Villa.

許多歐洲球隊現在都是由富有的亞洲、中東投資家和公司所擁有，或者由他們提供資金。上個月，AC米蘭的同城死敵國際米蘭就被出售給了中國電子零售商蘇寧雲商集團。同樣是在上個月，中國商人夏建統就完成了對阿斯頓維拉俱樂部的收購，這筆交易價值7600萬英鎊。