INTER MILAN legend Christian Vieri says it’s “about time” that the San Siro was demolished after plans for a new stadium moved forward.
The San Siro has been home to AC Milan since 1926 before Inter Milan started sharing the ground with their rivals in 1947.
It’s hosted some of the most famous matches of all time, including four Champions League finals.
But there have been growing calls for both teams to have a modern arena nearly a century after the stadium was first opened.
Milan and Inter have bought the San Siro area from the Milan City Council for around £167m and are now pushing ahead with plans to build a new ground.
The original San Siro is expected to be taken down, with the new arena built in its place, and it is hoped work will be completed by 2031.
It is expected to have a capacity of 71,500, with construction starting in 2027.
Vieri played for both Milan teams but became a legend at Inter and is recognised as one of their greatest ever players.
He said the city “deserved” a new stadium and that it would mean Italy can host even more top events and games.
Speaking to Italian outlet Gazzetta, he said: “It was about time. Finally, we’ll have a new stadium as the city of Milan deserves.
“They even tore down Wembley and built a more modern arena, better suited to the needs of football and today’s society.
“We can do exactly the same without always despairing. Then we wonder why we are falling behind.
“Great memories will remain, but honestly, not being able to host the Euros or a Champions League Final because we don’t have a modern stadium is not acceptable, and frankly, I don’t think it benefits anyone.”
The new stadium plans are being orchestrated by Foster + Partners, the same group that is behind proposals for Manchester United’s 100,000-capacity stadium.
Foster + Partners – led by British architect Lord Norman Foster – won the contract to design a new 71,5000-seat stadium on the site, featuring ‘two large tiers’.
Both clubs are still waiting for their purchase of the San Siro area to be formally ratified, but hailed the plans for a “world class facility” that will provide “a symbol for football fans around the world”.
It said they were “pleased with the city council’s approval of the sale of the San Siro and its surrounding area: a historic and decisive step for the future of the clubs and the city”.
The statement continued: “The next steps of the process … will lead to the creation of a new stadium meeting the highest international standards – a world-class facility destined to become a new architectural icon for Milan and a symbol of the passion of football fans around the world.”
It’s understood that at least 91 percent of the original San Siro will be demolished.
It is hoped that a small part of the old ground will be preserved to become part of the new build.
Foster + Partner’s plans for the super-stadium have yet to be released.
Several plans had been hatched for a potential San Siro replacement down the years.
One of the more innovative ideas included a remarkable underground stadium.
The unusual suggestion was designed by architect Davide Bruno who presented the idea during the Il Foglio a San Siro event.
These plans also included the construction of luxury hotels and restaurants, as well as event spaces.
While a suggestion was also made for a new park to be built above the stadium, including 20,000 trees, 500,000 flowers and more than four miles of slopes and pedestrian paths.
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