AC Milan Not Distracted by Takeover Talks, Says Pioli

04 April 2022, Italy, Milan: Milan coach Stefano Pioli pictured prior to the start of the Italian Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC 1909 at San Siro Stadium. (dpa)
04 April 2022, Italy, Milan: Milan coach Stefano Pioli pictured prior to the start of the Italian Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC 1909 at San Siro Stadium. (dpa)
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AC Milan Not Distracted by Takeover Talks, Says Pioli

04 April 2022, Italy, Milan: Milan coach Stefano Pioli pictured prior to the start of the Italian Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC 1909 at San Siro Stadium. (dpa)
04 April 2022, Italy, Milan: Milan coach Stefano Pioli pictured prior to the start of the Italian Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC 1909 at San Siro Stadium. (dpa)

AC Milan will not be distracted by a potential takeover of the club and the players are focused squarely on Tuesday's Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Inter Milan, manager Stefano Pioli said.

Sources said on Friday that Bahrain-domiciled asset manager Investcorp had entered into exclusive talks to purchase Milan.

"We haven't talked about it and nothing will take away our concentration on the championship semi-final," Pioli told a news conference on Monday.

"The club is very close to us. I can say that Milan's present is very solid and the future could be even better."

Milan failed to take advantage of several chances in the first leg, which ended 0-0.

The neighbors are also vying for the Serie A title with leaders Milan two points ahead of Inter, who have played a game less. Pioli said the outcome of Tuesday's cup match would have no impact on the title race.

"We know what our path is regardless," Pioli said. "Clearly tomorrow is important because there is a final, we will do our best. But we will have to try to win all the games regardless of tomorrow night."

The manager added that defenders Davide Calabria and Alessio Romagnoli could return for Tuesday.

"Calabria and Romagnoli, let's see today, Calabria had some difficulties," Pioli said. "Romagnoli is a little better but today will be decisive. (Matteo) Gabbia came out tired but I think he will be there tomorrow."

The winner of Tuesday's contest will meet either Fiorentina or Juventus in the final.



‘Flooding Rains’ Threaten to Dampen Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Spectators are seen behind the Eiffel Tower ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Spectators are seen behind the Eiffel Tower ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)
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‘Flooding Rains’ Threaten to Dampen Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Spectators are seen behind the Eiffel Tower ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Spectators are seen behind the Eiffel Tower ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)

The Paris Olympics look likely to get off to a soggy start.

Meteo-France, the French weather service, is predicting “flooding rains” Friday evening when the opening ceremony is set to unroll along the Seine River. But the show is set to go on as planned, starting at 1:30 p.m. EDT/7:30 p.m. CEST and should last more than three hours.

Already in the late afternoon, skies were gray with intermittent drizzle. There was a silver lining, though, with temperatures expected to stay relatively warm throughout the evening.

Instead of a traditional march into a stadium, about 6,800 athletes will parade on more than 90 boats on the Seine River for 6 kilometers (3.7 miles). Though 10,700 athletes are expected to compete at these Olympics, hundreds of soccer players are based outside Paris, surfers are in Tahiti and many have yet to arrive for their events in the second week, organizers said Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands of people, including 320,000 paying and invited ticket-holders, are expected to line the Seine’s banks as athletes are paraded along the river on boats.