European giants AC Milan sent a team of delegates to Hill Dickinson Stadium this week as they seek inspiration from Everton’s new home when rebuilding the San Siro.

With seven European Cups/Champions Leagues and 19 Serie A titles, Milan are one of the biggest names in club football worldwide.

They were a dominant force in the 1990s and 2000s under the ownership of Silvio Berlusconi with icons like Dutch trio Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, other overseas imports such as George Weah, Andrij Shevchenko and Kaka, plus domestic legends Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi in their sides. Future Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti, who went on to be the most successful coach in Champions League history, also played in midfield for Milan before moving into the dugout.

However, with the Premier League now the financially dominant force in football, Italian clubs, who regularly paid the biggest transfer fees and highest wages for several decades, have now been left playing catch up both on and off the pitch.