UNITY OF INTENTS

This morning at Milanello a press conference was held during which Adriano Galliani communicated the extension of the contract with Adidas until 30 June 2017. - THE PRESS CONFERENCE -

MILANELLO - Today at 12.30 Milan's Delegate Administrator Adriano Galliani held a press conference on the renewal of the contract with Adidas. Here is what he said:

ADRIANO GALLIANI:

"These three great international trophies we've won in 2007 allowed Milan to become the most title-winning club in the world and that gives us a lot of joy. At the start of last year we were first along with Real Madrid with fifteen trophies won in Europe, while it was more difficult to make comparisons with South American teams because the competitions are different, but still Boca Juniors were on top. Destiny allowed us to once again meet Liverpool and play the against Boca Juniors, after winning the Champions League on 23 May and the European Supercup on 31 August. Finally on 16 December we managed to play this 'World derby' and becoming the most title winning club with 18 trophies.

Personally I like the Adidas slogan which says: 'Our stripes, their stripes, when they come together something fantastic and extraordinary happens.' And that's what happened. The relationship with Adidas originated in 1998 and Milan immediately won a Scudetto, and also another championship, an Italian Supercup, a Coppa Italia, two Champions Leagues and two European Supercups, and finally a Club World Cup. I think these are enough reasons to be satisfied about the relationship with Adidas, and I think Adidas are equally satisfied with their relationship with Milan, which is why we've decided to extend this relationship until 30 June 2017.

This relationship is more than a simple sponsorship deal, but a communion of intents for everything concerning the world of football between our Club and the Adidas group. The whole world sees us engaged in various beneficiary activities like this year's Adidas Cup, an important event for Fondazione Milan and we have the intention to promote other initiatives.

I'm convinced that with Adidas we will do other things together and aside from maintaining the merchandising relationship, from 1 July 2008 it will be Adidas to take care of the distribution of non-football related Milan products, as our contract with Warner will expire. We will give hand this important department over to Adidas and will therefore be tied through three different contracts: the sponsorship on the shirt, the merchandising and the distribution of all non-football related Milan products."

Along with Adriano Galliani, also Adidas Delegate Administrator Herbert Hainer participated to the press conference, here is what he said:

"We are very satisfied with the performances, the victories and the results obtained by Milan and we are bound by this partnership. It's a great pleasure for me to announce we have decided to extend our agreement until 30 June 2017. It's a great honor for me to be able to announce that the most title-winning club in the world, Milan, the number one football brand in the world, and Adidas, have decided to prolong this partnership which has been so successful until 2017.

The relationship between Milan and Adidas is very special. Since 1998, when we joined with Milan, the club managed to win nine more titles and for me this is also an opportunity to congratulate all those who put in the effort to achieve this success. The collaboration works well, aside from these victories, and we work every day to improve our marketing and to value what is the most important sport in the world, football.

Through this new deal with A.C. Milan we intend to promote a large amount of articles tied to Milan aside from the traditional categories like sporting shoes, sporting clothes and accessories. For us it's the first time and we are very proud to initiate this new deal."

At the end of the press conference, Adriano Galliani answered a few questions to the journalists:

Are Milan richer now after this deal with Adidas or because from yesterday Pato is available?
"I'm happy with the current Milan squad. Pato is an important reinforcement for a squad rich in every department. Alexandre Pato should be allowed to grow, but we should remember that Milan won all their trophies so far without him. He's an extra player in the most title winning club in the world, but Milan arrived to this point with other champions like Maldini, Kaká, Nesta and our captain won 13 of those trophies on the pitch.

Yesterday was a very positive evening for the result, because the team is doing well and aside from Inzaghi, our coach can count on the entire squad. There was a great atmosphere at San Siro, there were more than seventy thousand spectators to watch a beautiful pre-match event with all our trophies. Then the match went as you know and it's only the start of our recovery in the league because as you all know the objective for this year is to repeat 2007."

Ronaldo?
"Ronaldo only has to do well physically. If they called him Fenomeno there should be a reason, it's enough for him to be doing well and go on the pitch to have a consistent level of performance. There is no hurry for the renewal neither from his side nor from ours. I hope he's gotten past this bad period of six months he was involved in, now he only has to continue doing well to help us reach the objective we have set and if he does well then the contract extension will come without any problem."