Massimiliano Mirabelli has hit out at the current ownership of AC Milan, implying that nobody knows who is in charge at present.
Mirabelli joined Milan back in 2017 when Yonghong Li bought the club from Silvio Berlusconi, and oversaw a transfer campaign which saw Milan bring in a number of high-profile players for over €100million.
Both he and CEO Marco Fassone were let go a year later in summer 2018 when Yonghong defaulted on the repayment of loans and Elliott Management seized control of the club after an unsuccessful season.
Mirabelli has previously been outspoken about his time with the Diavolo – such as having an agreement in place to sign Cristiano Ronaldo and the huge fine he gave to Leonardo Bonucci.
He has now spoken out once again, this time about the current ownership as well as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paolo Maldini.
“When I was there, we knew who was in charge, there was no confusion and the results showed: we went to the Europa League, we touched the Champions League qualification and arrived in the Coppa Italia final against Juventus,” he told calciotoday.
“The regret is that I wasn’t given the time, I hope that the leaders now wish to continue the project started. A new revolution would be wrong, the rumours destabilise the environment and Pioli is not working quietly.
“Ibrahimovic undoubtedly gave something important, even to the young players who once saw Ibra perhaps only in the stickers. However, I would not like it to be only a momentary thing, the weight cannot go entirely on the shoulders of a 38-year-old, albeit a champion. I wouldn’t have signed him.”
On Maldini, he added: “Those who have played at very high levels are not necessarily capable of being managers. Paolo is a beginner and is making his apprenticeship, he will need time to become familiar with this profession.”
Mirabelli also spoke about the perceived faults of the Chinese ownership, and the legacy it left.
“This is said by those who do not know the facts. We found a team needing to be rebuilt with only one market session available, we had to buy 10 players.
“We renewed Donnarumma’s contract and with an agent like Raiola it is not easy, this has benefited the club. I want to see now if and how the goalkeeper’s contract will be extended. Then we launched Gattuso as a coach.”
