AC Milan's players celebrate at the end of the Italian Serie A football match against Cagliari at the San Siro stadium in Milan. File / AFP

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Italian football giants AC Milan have announced a  partnership deal with Expo 2020 Dubai aiming to strengthen club's presence in the Middle East.

The club said that the move is a part of their continued push to promote itself in what it sees as "a key market.”

Expo 2020 is set to be the largest event to be held in the Arab world, with nearly 200 countries setting up pavilions to showcase innovations and achievements.

It was rescheduled for this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The city of Milan hosted the last Expo, in 2015.

"As a club based in Milan, a city that hosted the most recent World Expo in 2015, we know that Expo 2020 is a special moment in history that sees the world comes together to unlock its potential,” said Casper Stylsvig, Milan’s chief revenue officer.

The club nicknamed Rossoneri, have played several friendly matches in the region in the past and also has a long-standing partnership with Emirates.

The club added that it will provide "unique content” with players for the Expo and "will bring its heritage and vision to promote the fundamental values of sport and inspire positive change through football.”

Seven-time European champion Milan is historically one of the most successfully clubs in the world.

But it hasn’t won a major trophy in more than a decade.

The Rossoneri finished second in Serie A last season, behind city rival Inter Milan.