Inter and AC Milan could get construction underway on a new stadium in Milan by 2023, should the public debate phase not drag on too much.

This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, who report that the Municipality is sending signals that the public debate could be finished after around eight months and that the clubs could plan to start building next year.

The Nerazzurri and the Rossoneri received approval of public utility on the new stadium project in October after the civic elections in Milan, but are now facing further hurdles in the form of a drawn-out public debate.

The debate is necessary by law for any works which cost over €300 million, and Mayor Beppe Sala has been speaking about soon getting it underway.

A referendum would even be a possibility, should the required number of signatures be collected by March 5, and could put a stop to the new stadium plans in the San Siro entirely if 50%+1 of voters from the last civic election vote in it.

As such, the clubs have publicly intimated that they are ready to potentially look at other projects involving building outside the San Siro area.

However, the city council is also signalling that the public debate process could ensure that no referendum is necessary, and that it could be through in just eight months, shy of the maximum allowable twelve months.