Artificial turf eyed at San Siro in bid to be pitch perfect

Milan’s famous San Siro stadium could be given artificial turf after suffering for years with poor natural grass pitches.

The 80,000-seater arena, shared by Serie A sides AC Milan and Inter Milan, could join fellow Italian top-flight side Cesena in having fake grass if proposals get the go ahead.

“We are very favourable to the idea, especially as we have just had to lay down new turf this week,” said Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani without giving a timeframe on any change.

The turf gets a pounding from matches at least every weekend during the season while the height of the stands means not enough sunlight and rain comes in.

Inter had considered building a new stadium and Milan had wanted to renovate the San Siro, completed in 1926, but Italy’s failed bid for Euro 2016 has put both plans on hold.

Second-placed AC Milan, a point behind Juve with six games left, host Bologna tomorrow.

Meanwhile, leaders Juventus have a fully-fit squad to choose from for tomorrow’s home game with AS Roma as the Turin side aim to go one step closer to breaking Inter’s 2004/05 record of 38 games unbeaten in all competitions from the start of a season.

Juve are on 36, a club record, and could be aided by Roma still being without top defenders Juan, Nicolas Burdisso and Marco Cassetti.

Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday linked Juve with a bid for Chelsea’s Didier Drogba in the close season.