Meazza family weigh in on San Siro naming debate: ‘Our home, sacred’

Federico Jaselli Meazza, the grandson of the legendary Giuseppe Meazza, hopes that Inter and Milan decide to keep his family’s name on the new stadium once the iconic San Siro redevelopment is complete: ‘It’s sacred’. 

Milan and Inter have recently agreed to purchase the San Siro site, including the famous Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, and redevelop the ground to bring it in line with the other state-of-the-art sports venues across Europe. 

The clubs have recently announced partnerships with the architectural firms Foster + Partners and MANICA, and it is believed that over 90% of the Stadio Meazza in its current form will be demolished to make way for the new, 71,000-seater stadium. 

The Milan city council have recently voted to approve the sale of San Siro to the clubs Inter and Milan, although there is still plenty of red tape to cut through before construction gets underway. 

Meazza grandson on San Siro: ‘A symbol of Milan, sacred’

Among the current debates surrounding San Siro is the naming of the new stadium. 

Though commonly referred to as ‘San Siro’, the stadium itself has been named after Giuseppe Meazza since 1980. 

Meazza’s grandson, Federico, speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, hopes that his grandfather’s ‘sacred’ name is still honoured in some form at the new ground. 

“The stadium is a piece of history. We’re not just talking about some steps and some concrete, but about culture and the emotions associated with Giuseppe Meazza, to those who cheered for him and for those who still talk about him today,” Federico Meazza said. 

“I often talk about him with my mother, who lives in Milan. The real feeling of regret is less about the stadium being abandoned, but that it will be demolished. It’s like it’s our home, in the most personal and familial sense of the word.” 

Federico Meazza does not deny the fact that the current San Siro site is in need of redevelopment. 

“Our stadium is still beautiful, but it does need to be renovated because it is very old and inhospitable in certain areas. I understand that it’s a very expensive decision, and I’m also aware of the clubs’ needs. But there are still some feelings of bitterness and regret.

“I don’t know what direction they’ll go in, but we, as a family, hope that the name will be kept because it’s sacred. Meazza is a symbol of Milan, uniting the two teams across the world.

“One time, in a pub in a small English town, the bartender pouring my pint read my ID and said: ‘Meazza, like the champion?’ Here in Spain, everyone calls the stadium by my grandfather’s name rather than San Siro. 

“I’m realistic. I imagine that it’s complicated to keep everything as it was before, especially given the need for sponsors. I still hope that at least something will be done.”