"Serie A is the most competitive league, but we can't secure significant deals for international TV rights because distributors only want the best. In the United States, no one cares about Cagliari-Lecce, and that's a problem." An unfortunate statement from Gerry Cardinale, AC Milan owner and founder of RedBird Capital Partners. In an interview with the American podcast The Varsity , the entrepreneur belittled two of the Rossoneri's opponents, deeming their matches uninteresting. And Cagliari president Tommaso Giulini's response was swift.

"Dear Cardinal," Giulini's attack on X, "it's easy to say 'Cagliari-Lecce doesn't interest anyone' when you only know Sardinia as a tourist. The eighth-ranked club in Italy by fans is watched, respected, and—who knows—some people in the US perhaps support Cagliari more than Milan."

Cardinale's interview, and the passage that drew a prompt response from Giulini, comes amid intense criticism over the desire to stage the February Milan-Como match in Perth, Australia, given the unavailability of the Meazza stadium for the Winter Olympics. Meanwhile, protests in Spain have led to the cancellation of the Villarreal-Barcelona match's move to Miami.