Gerry Cardinale insisted on being there for AC Milan at all costs in the most crucial match of the season, even if it was a quick visit.
La Gazzetta dello Sport write that Cardinale hadn’t officially announced his presence, but he had stressed to those closest to him that it was a real possibility. So this morning he left London’s Luton Airport and landed in Genoa on a private flight around 10:00 CEST.
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He went directly to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, where he met with the team and spoke in the dressing room. “I’m by your side and I believe in you,” was the gist of the RedBird founder’s speech before the match. Few words, but important.
Cardinale’s pitstop
Cardinale wanted to be close to the group after giving an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport this week and meeting with his managers in London. He had already expressed his thoughts (“I come from a culture where, when someone stumbles, we help them get back up”) and he wanted to reinforce it with action.
After visiting the dressing room, he watched the match from the official box, flanked by sporting director Igli Tare. Christopher Nkunku and Zachary Athekame – two players he strongly endorsed – were crucial to the victory. Milan board member Massimo Calvelli. Also nearby were CEO Giorgio Furlani and chief brand officer Francesca Montini.
Wearing sunglasses and sporting a casual look, the Milan owner was fully engaged in the match and went to congratulate the team after the final whistle. He closed with a clear message of confidence: ‘Keep going’. The reference was clearly to the remaining match, the one against Cagliari, with one more win needed.
Cardinale stayed for a few minutes, thanking the players and congratulating Massimiliano Allegri, then went to the airport and boarded a private flight to London. Therefore, he will not have any meetings in Milan tomorrow.
There will be time to discuss the club’s reorganisation after Milan-Cagliari on Sunday. Cardinale will, however, continue discussions to ensure he is ready after the end of the season. The Rossoneri welcomed Cardinale’s arrival, and his words certainly reassured the team.
Allegri said: “Cardinale’s presence was crucial, but I think I’ve always said that. The club comes first, then the club must be strong: if it is, everyone becomes stronger and better. Cardinale came to speak before the match, and there was a more positive energy.”
The report adds that the RedBird boss ‘wants to build a future with Allegri on the bench’, and Champions League qualification would trigger a contract extension for the coach (until 2028). However, the issue of cohabitation between Max and Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains to be resolved.
It will be complicated for the two to continue together. This is one of the issues Cardinale will have to resolve. On Sunday, the American will likely be at San Siro again for that final push.
Snackpåsen Anale
Enough with the BS..just leave!!
If it comes to that, it’s Zlatan that should leave…
Since Zlatan took over, we are having a decline.
Aside of him never being able to clearly clarify his exact role, him being on the board never seems to bring added value to the team.
They are going to keep Allegri as a coach just so they don’t have to pay to fire him
Sure, that’s what they did with the last three coaches.
This is what they did with the last 3 coaches:
Pioli- They didn’t fire Pioli alongside Maldini and Massara because he had 2 years left on his contract. Instead of firing him after the team finished 5th, they fired him the following summer after the team finished 2nd. Why? Because they didn’t want to pay him 2 years of his contract. Maldini and Massara only had 1 year left on their contracts.
Fonseca signed 3 year contract in July 2024, BUT, His agreement contained a specific termination clause. By firing him within the first six months, Milan were only required to pay his salary until June 2025, rather than the full amount up to 2027. He was fired before the 6 month time period expired.
Conceição signed 1.5 year contract in December of 2025, BUT, As Gianluca Di Marzio‘s website writes, Milan have announced that Conceiçao’s contract will expire on 30 June 2026. However, the Rossoneri will be able to terminate the relationship after six months, therefore at the end of the season. Effectively, what it means is the next few months will serve as a trial period for the former Porto boss to try and earn a stay beyond the summer.
If Milan qualifies for the UCL, Allegri will have 2 years left on his contract instead of just 1.
Its not rocket science, just follow the pattern
The “pattern”. 😂😂😂😂😂
First you said they didn’t have to pay them. Next you said they didn’t have to pay them fully. Bro, it’s okay to be wrong. It’s only an online platform after all.
The last 3 seasons have shown management have no issues changing players, directors or coaches. This idea that they’ll keep Allegri just to avoid making a severance payment is pure fantasy. After 3 years how are you STILL pushing the idea that this management are stingy and concerned about money?!?!
Thank you Cardinale!!
I’m by no means an Allegrian, but the hard truth is that there’s no other coach available right now that can take this Milan with this current squad to UCL spot. We even sat nicely on 2nd and had a quick peek at Scudetto hope. But deep down, we all know it’s the team over-delivering.
The target for Allegri is to bring stability to the team, consistently entering UCL. That’s why his contract is tied to UCL qualification. That’s his KPI. And that’s exactly what he’s doing. If the management really want to continue with him, I hope that they give more trust in player decision. We all know Rabiot is all on him, and I can’t even imagine where we are right now without him.
We don’t need yet another revolution. We just need to add several key players that the coach desperately needs (from the beginning of this season). Namely, a classic striker, a CB, a WB, and an experienced player ala Modric.
“The target for Allegri is to bring stability to the team”
Mission accomplished! Milan has been consistently bad. No ups and downs, just bad performances and many lucky wins. There’s your stability. 🙄
Haha yes, I can’t say Allegri brings a good and beautiful football, because that’s not his main forte. About the lucky wins, well we can argue on that more later. Before that fiasco after the derby win, our performance is indeed stable. Being the best defense in the league, and long streak of unbeaten.
All I’m saying is that if the management really have a trust in him, simply give him the players he needed. It’s not like he’s asking for Mbappe or something. And if by the end of the day our team still not improving, by then we can talk about his dismissal.
“All I’m saying is that if the management really have a trust in him, simply give him the players he needed. ”
Well. As much as I do hate him being the coach, he really is doomed to fail unless he gets the players he wants. So yes, if we must continue with him, get the players he asks for. Otherwise we’re just wasting another two more years until the next reset. Again.
That means Ibrahimovic must leave. It can only be either one of them who stays.
Let’s Ibra leave. This shouldn’t be a difficult decision to make.
I wonder what’s behind the rumour about Ibra telling Leao, Pulisic, Tomori and Cheek that Allegri don’t want them in the squad coming next season. If that’s true, it could be a reason for their sudden decline.
He said SUDDEN decline!!!
The only 1 that fits that description is Pulisic. The rest of them have been on decline for years
We came from 8th last season to CL qualifications this season. Is this decline for years in room with us right now?
So the players that you claim have had a sudden decline this season finished 8th last season but the decline is sudden. 🤔
Also, you mentioned specific players, not the team.
How did Loftus Cheek look last season?
How has Tomori looked for several seasons?
Leao has been in decline since his 2023.
As I said, Pulisic is tye only one that can be considered in a decline this season.
Think before you respond. Also, makes sure you read your own previous comment
Were you in induced coma last season?
Same team under different coach. Or rather two different coaches. Maybe that has something to do with us finishing 8th. Now this same team was on the verge of Scudetto this season with 63 points until December. Last season 63 points is all they were able to grab whole season. So yes. A sudden decline.
You keep bringing up how many points THE TEAM collected last season compared to this season when we are talking about individual players decline.
You specifically talked about 4 players in your initial comment, not the team. 3 out of the 4 players have been on a decline so it wasn’t nothing sudden about them.
Tomori has played more minutes this season than he did last season even though Milan played in UCL and Copa Italia till the final because he was bad. We can actually make a case that he is better this season than he was last.
Leao was getting benched by both coaches because he was bad. He is bad this season too.
Loftus Cheek barely played last season because of injuries and even when he was healthy he was bad. Sounds familiar?
Pulisic is the only one who had a good season last year,regardless of the coaches, and is having a SUDDEN DECLINE this season.
Please don’t talk about football anymore, it’s not your strength.
That’s it then. Unless we collapse next weekend I’m out. I can’t take Allegri for another 1,2,5 years. He’ll ruin us.
Zalatan should stop behaving like a kid and should always support any coach appointed by the management, divided opinion from with the coach is not good for the team.
I just hope that we have a coach that can last 2-3 years, not changing every year.. for tactical stability.. I’m on neutral side of this allegri case, because tbh I don’t like his playing style.. but still, we need to remember that this team at the start of the season is undefeated for a long period of matches.. like it or not.
Correct and genuinely pushing for the scudetto.