Leading up to the 2024 summer mercato, there have been fears about how AC Milan may look to add to their budget for additions, with several hoping that Sandro Tonali’s departure last season will not be replicated this summer. Today, CEO Giorgio Furlani has spoken on the situation, aiming to ease any worries.
Plenty of positives can and have been taken from the summer recruitment in 2023, but there is one shadow to it – the sale Milan fan and fan favourite, Tonali. Whilst the fee that the club got opened avenues to other signings, there was a bitter taste left in the mouth about his departure, as would be expected for any club when losing a player who is held in such a regard.
Therefore, with reports of the Rossoneri’s targets for the summer growing in hype, there is also a worry attached to them about the potential for a sacrifice within the squad to be made to fund a Joshua Zirkzee or Alessandro Buongiorno.
When we spoke to Daniele Longo – which can be read in full here – he revealed that the Diavolo may not have to sell a star this season – something that has seemed possible in recent weeks due to Mike Maignan’s situation.
Furlani has further dispelled the rumours that the club must sell a star to add to the squad this summer in an interview today, stating that the trio that could be targeted for moves are all under contract and are happy at the club.
Can a major sale be avoided in the summer mercato?
“We don’t need to make sales to recover from losses. Being a profitable club, we have the opportunity to invest from the start. Leao, Maignan and Theo Hernandez are happy to stay at Milan and have long contracts.”
Of course, if a ludicrous offer arrived, the club would have to consider the prospect of a sale and how they would replace the player. However, the news that selling a star is not required and investments can be made without sacrifices will be well received.
One must be sold.
Growth Decree will make Milan unable to bring new striker, centre back and midfielder on bigger contract without big sale. Also, extending one of 2 big stars (Theo or Mike) would much increase salary expenditure…
I would bet on Theo stay, because he doesn’t request payrise like Mike. And Mike can be substitute by goalkeeper on much lower paycheck and decent amortisation…
Selling Mike, Origi, Saelemakers, Maldini, Colombo, De Ketelaere, would make space for new arrivals and positive balance sheet in next season. And Mike already reached top play of career.
I do agree that if 1 has to go to invest in the much needed upgrades you suggest it has to be Mike. It’s a shame, he is the only leader left in the squad and unsure what impact that would have, more so with Kjaer leaving.
They fed us with same cr*p last summer. I learned no one is safe with this yanks and so I don’t take it to my heart too much for anyone. We are what we are, far from old, glorious Milan
Except Theo. The only sale that would make me lose my sh*t again this summer would be Theo.
Did we not end up with a better team than last season? Or would you rather have an unavailable Tonali vs. combined Tiji, Pulisic and Loftus?
They never replaced Kessie and Tonali with adequate players of similar characteristics. This midfield is just poorly constructed. It leaks and it’s evident from the goals conceded. RLC as much as he scores, he offers no support in midfield. Musah just runs around whether it’s with the ball of after it. The only real upgrade was made on the wings. In form of Pulisic, Okafor while Chuk is also waking up.
The replacements had different characteristics. The comparables are RLC and Deers, not Puli who is a winger (I prefer him over one of Messias/Saele though). In some sense it’s really Deers and Musah that are comparable as RLC has been used upfield. Deers and RLC were bought for a 433 and I’d choose them over Tonali for that formation. But we went back to the 4231 so I’d prefer Tonali over them on an individual basis because he actually offers something, whatever little,in defence, plus knows how to play the pivot 🤷♂️. Again, still haven’t replaced Kessie, so there’s that too.
From quantity ofc the preference would be for two over one player because it’s two options. But it gets interesting if you ask to swap only one.
Imo, the “better” than last season is subjective. One can argue we should do better than the worst league campaign under Pioli. On the other hand got kicked out of UCL vs semis last year. Score more, concede but more than normal. Take your pick. We’re right about goal +/- and points as any season other than last, so we’ve been made whole basically
We sold 1 good midfielder for 60m and we bought 3 midfielders for 60m, of whom 1 is good
RLC true it is upgrade from Brahim or CDK in AM position, but he is lazy to help defense just like his time in chelsea . Puli & Chuk upgrade from junior & salad for RW. But the double pivot need defensive atribute that tiji ,pobega,adili,yunus,bennacer are lacking while tonali can offer defense even it is not equal with kessie. Replace one from adili,bennacer ,pobega for one DMF will boost double pivot performance and training yunus to become more defensive
PSG coming with offer 100m euro + add on 10m euro for leao , Furlani : its time to sell. No player are safe in ACM if huge offer coming .
They have a sporting and business project and in sports big players are needed to bring in interest and revenue. So I am not so sure they’d let go of the emblem player since the sporting brand would take a very big hit. I do think Maignan on the other hand would be the one they’d look at.
If they sell leao we become mid-table team