Max Allegri’s former coach Giovanni Galeone has fuelled rumours that he could return to AC Milan, and made a bold prediction regarding delivering a trophy quickly.
Allegri has been out of work since leaving Juventus towards the end of last season and he did so under a storm cloud following the Coppa Italia win over Atalanta. Now, it seems that he is ready for a new challenge ahead of 2025-26.
Milan meanwhile must make some crucial decisions, such as hiring a sporting director. Then Sergio Conceicao’s fate will be known, but La Gazzetta dello Sport reported this week that Allegri feels Milan are the right next club for him, and the interest is mutual.
Galeone remains friends with Allegri and is credited as being a mentor of sorts for the Livorno-born coach. He spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport, answering questions about a possible second spell with the Rossoneri.
Would you be surprised by his return?
“Of course not! In fact, I don’t know why they didn’t think of it before. I thought he would return in the summer, when the club then chose other solutions, first Fonseca and then Conceiçao.
“He would be perfect to start a new cycle: Max knows the environment, he has experience. And then he is him, he is simply Max.”
Allegri would bring knowledge and experience, what could Milan offer Max instead?
“Massimiliano still has a great desire to show himself, he has an incredible desire to return. In previous years he refused incredible offers from the Premier League or PSG. The French managers even called me to convince him to go!
“There was no way. In Arabia they offered him golden bridges and he didn’t. He is looking for a stimulating challenge and he loves Serie A, Milan can offer him all this.”
Would Max have to be convinced with an expensive transfer campaign?
“Not at all. Already at the start of the season he told me that Milan have a great squad, a team where you can work well. Technically it is a high-level team. It has super players: it is not easy to find a midfield with Reijnders and Fofana. Few have them.
“Max would do well for many reasons: I am convinced that in a couple of years he would win the league title again. A couple of additions would be enough, but not much and without breaking the bank.”
Would Leao be suited to Allegri?
“Rafa is a player with stratospheric qualities. It’s a shame that he doesn’t have continuity and that he’s not easy to manage. But I think that at the same time he knows how to make himself loved, and with Max all the most ‘difficult’ players have always had a great relationship.
“From Rabiot to Pogba with whom he also played basketball: they were his protégés. Max and Rafa would have no communication problems. When he returned to Juve, Allegri kept his old identity. He would do the same at Milan, without having to overturn anything.”
Not even in terms of style of play?
“There, everyone has their own style. Allegri would certainly bring serenity to the evaluations. It’s true that he loses his temper every now and then, but he’s always very good at making decisions.
“He knows how to quickly understand the categories of the players and make them perform to their best qualities.”
Is this Milan already competitive in your eyes too?
“Let’s see if Maignan is back to being the great goalkeeper he once was. I don’t mind the defenders, especially Pavlovic: he has strength and desire, if you teach him how to play he can make the difference. Max is right: it’s a team that settles down quickly.”
And what about his relationship with Zlatan Ibrahimovic?
“There were old disagreements, things that in football are resolved in an instant.”
Another mistake incoming. De Zebri, Gasp are available next season, but dinosaur Allegri. Yes he lost against a small club in CL. His team got dominated by teams in relegated zone. His salary would be higher than the above 2 and equal to Conte. De Zebri is in second place in a league where PSG is expected to win. A milanista with much lower salary.
I have no problem with getting Gasperini in, in fact it should’ve happened sooner, but Gasperini is no pushover and speaks his mind even more so than Conceicao. He needs the full backing of management, no interfering and players that are willing to put their ego’s aside, as he wants to be the undisputed leader.
He isn’t a big team,’s coach pls. Failed woefully in inter
Looks like the pendulum is swinging hard the other way. Last time he was in charge (it arguably happened the same at Juve), everyone complained about his boring 1-0 win style. I remember the whole “we have so much talent up front and yet we win 1-0”. In response, over the years, the club went hard the other way. Again, Even Juventus did the same. Now, that our defense is in shambles, the club is basically saying let’s go back to boring 1-0s. History does indeed repeat itself. I’m sure some fans will welcome a 1-0 win. I am not so sure…. yet.
Winning is winning, whether it’s 1-0 or not, remember when we won the title only scoring 36 goals for the entire season? Even with Van Basten.
Everybody is going forward but Milan wants to go 15 years back with boring Alegri. Unbelievable.
Mechionu
No, he will use 352 that can become 541 in field. It is just a repeat mistake. Take another Italian coach that have many years experience in Serie A like Sarri, Gasp ( only if he leave Atalanta at the end of season)
Cesc or Gasp or RDZ.
Allegri please no.
I’m so confused as to why there’s so much Allegri speculation when we haven’t even appointed a SD.
Unless:
1. they already talked and agreed with Paratici
or
2. This is just synchronized media speculation with one source feeding off another.
Wow – sounds amazing – no negatives whatsoever!