Inter Milan President Steven Zhang and his AC Milan counterpart Gerry Cardinale aren’t on speaking terms due to a conflict over new stadium plans.

This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who report that the two men are unlikely to speak ahead of Saturday’s derby clash.

The relationship between Zhang and Cardinale did not get off to a bad start.

After RedBird Capital took over at Milan, Cardinale’s first Milan derby came in September of last year.

Zhang received the new Rossoneri President warmly. And Cardinale more than reciprocated.

The Gazzetta notes that the two club Presidents spoke privately during halftime. Moreover, Zhang sat in a skybox that Milan had provided to watch the match.

But after that, everything went very sour between Zhang and Cardinale.

Stadium Issue The Reason For Cold Relations Between Inter & AC Milan Presidents

As the Gazzetta note, Zhang and Cardinale had made plans to hold a meeting about a month after the September derby last season.

However, those plans never came to fruition.

The reason for this was a conflict over the strategy regarding the new stadium plans to replace the San Siro.

For several years, Inter and Milan had both been pursuing plans to build a new stadium. This stadium would be meant to replace the San Siro, and the two clubs would both play in it as they currently do with the existing structure.

But after continuous bureaucratic hurdles, the Rossoneri finally lost patience.

The arrival of Cardinale and RedBird heralded a big changed in strategy. Milan decided not just to pursue alternate plans, but to do so on their own, without Inter.

For the Nerazzurri directors, this came as a surprise.

Therefore, Zhang was annoyed with the Rossoneri, and with Cardinale over the stadium situation.

Then, when Cardinale met with Milan Mayor Beppe Sala personally, without the involvement of Zhang or anyone else at Inter, the rift between the two men deepened.

At the most recent meeting between Inter and Milan – the second leg of last season’s Champions League semifinal – Zhang and Cardinale snubbed each other completely.

And the Gazzetta anticipate that little will change for next Saturday’s derby.

Both Zhang and Cardinale will be at the match. But there is little chance that they will greet one another.