Gerry Cardinale, the owner of AC Milan, didn't hold back in a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, calling for a major overhaul of Italian football while taking a cheeky jab at city rivals Inter. The American businessman stressed that the future of Serie A hinges on one thing: sports infrastructure.

"I wish there were more focus on the crucial issues," Cardinale said, pointing to the need to modernize Italian football. He highlighted a painful reality—Italy missing a third consecutive World Cup—and didn't mince words when discussing the state of the league's European ambitions. "It's about not showing up to Champions League Finals and losing 5-0," he said, a clear dig at Inter's heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 final in Munich.

The interview, also published by Corriere della Sera, saw Cardinale reflect on Milan's own struggles this season, hinting at major changes for the 2026-27 campaign. But his broader message was about the widening gap between Serie A and Europe's elite. "There's a 4-to-1 gap in TV rights revenues between the Premier League and everyone else," he noted. "The gap in Italian football has widened. The reality is, you won't solve it without money."

Cardinale, who knows a thing or two about finance, was quick to clarify that he's not looking to copy the American model outright. "I'm fully aware that things are different in Italy," he said. "I need to surround myself with great Italians who can help me adapt. It's part of the learning process."

For fans, the message is clear: Italian football needs a rebuild from the ground up—starting with the stadiums and the mindset. And as Cardinale sees it, the clock is ticking.