AC Milan and China are perfect match for each other

‍‍‍‍Expect yet another denial from AC Milan in the coming days. They have not been sold to Chinese investors, according to Italian news agency ANSA (h/t Football Italia). Not yet, anyway.

But the rumours persist, and every week there is more to them. 

At the beginning of the new year, it started with a minority stake. President Silvio Berlusconi would not give up more. Then his holding company Fininvest was approached by another investor, Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol, and suddenly the stance changed. Fininvest did not confirm or deny anything, per Football Italia. They simply did not comment.

As Taechaubol did his due diligence, there was silence. But this is a bidding war, and AC Milan are a hot commodity in Asia. They are only behind Manchester United and Arsenal as the most popular club in China, per CNN. The Rossoneri's on-field results have not hurt their stronghold in the country. 

Inevitably, the Chinese investors came. And they have much more money than Taechaubol, who would have to seek outside investors to cover debts and subsidize any takeover, per Forbes.

Take Zong Qinghou, for example. He is the billionaire chairman of Chinese drink Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co. He is worth some $19 billion, per Reuters. 

As expected, Zong has denied even expressing interest in football. "Even if we wanted to buy a soccer club," he said, "we would only consider a domestic team."

Yet there is undeniable interest in football in China—more than ever before. The president Xi Jinping is a football fan himself, and last month he announced a 10-year plan to promote and eventually take over the sport, according to Forbes, making football a part of the school curriculum.

Right now, the Chinese men's football team is ranked 83rd in the world, and Xi wants to change that.

And the Chinese are getting serious about soccer abroad. Billionaire Wang Jianlin's company recently purchased a 20 percent share of Atletico Madrid for €45 million, while also securing Swiss Infront Sports & Media.

Beijing sports promoter United Vansen Sports also bought a chunk of Eredivisie club ADO Den Haag. Plus, Hong Kong-based Tech Pro Technology Development is about to snatch up Ligue 1's FC Sochaux.

Naturally, for a club as widely supported as Milan, there is an even bigger opportunity. 

The Chinese government could even get involved. AskaNews believes that Xi and his government could invest in Milan with the aim of promoting the sport in the country (h/t Football Italia). Since Milan are big in China—and always have been—it's the perfect team to buy and market.

Look at the imprint Milan have made already. They have more than two million followers on Chinese social media website Weibo. They offer their signature magazine Forza Milan! in Chinese, as well as their website, and the Rossoneri regularly send the Milan Glorie to play in the Far East. They have also set up important partnerships with Asian brands, most recently with Hello Kitty and a few years ago with mobile company Huawei. 

Milan even went to Beijing in 2011 to play in the Supercoppa Italiana, which was a massive success on the field and off. They not only beat their rival Inter but also enjoyed a hero's welcome. Thousands crowded just to see them train—even more filled the Bird's Nest.

"Milan fans in Beijing, like Milan fans at home," reads the official AC Milan website. "The team was cheered on almost as if they were playing in the San Siro stadium."

There is history here. For decades, per Goal.com, national TV channel CCTV has broadcast the Milan derby. Their fans in China are real. They have seen Milan win trophies and play important matches. This isn't a sudden phenomenon like Manchester City: In Milan, these Chinese investors see a brand that the public already identify with.

Milan cannot afford to limp in and out of every year. Berlusconi simply cannot fund the moves he once did. And China cannot afford to waste all of the potential from a country with 1.3 billion people.

It's almost as if they need each other.

Original title by Bleacher Report: What Chinese Investment Would Mean for AC Milan and Silvio Berlusconi