AC Milan were never going to be at 100% for their first summer friendly against Arsenal, but it did magnify some existing concerns.
Milan began their 2025 preseason tour with a defeat against Premier League side Arsenal in Singapore. In what was for large parts a glorified training session, the only goal came early in the second half through Bukayo Saka.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
Blunt and confused
MilanNews write that the five-man defence chosen by the head coach Massimiliano Allegri didn’t allow for any kind of attacking play. Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic tried, but they certainly weren’t the right attacking duo for this type of situation.
Max wants a compact, solid team that then creates danger in transition. However, the fact that there was only one shot in target speaks volumes, especially after Arsenal switched to a more youthful side in the second half.
In addition to the attack being blunted, Yunus Musah gave very few positive signs in midfield. He was always late, never in position and gave the ball away often, including for one chance where Fikayo Tomori bailed him out.
Strahinja Pavlovic was exactly the same as seen last season: aggressive and combative no matter the situation. The qualities are there but they need to be reined in and refined, even if Allegri will appreciate the heart and soul.
So, the issues that Milan came into the game with have not been solved. The attack looks incomplete, the midfield missing some composure and quality, and further doubts about the right centre-back combination(s) have arisen.
We shouldn’t be starting pre-season with guys who are on their way out, we literally only had 12 players who are part of Allegri’s squad this coming season which is ridiculous considering he wants a 23 man squad.
What happened to make Milan more Italian?
Out: Pobega, Calabria, Florenzi, Camarda, Sportiello.
In: Ricci and Terracciano
Rumours Out: Colombo, Terracciano and Liberali
Rumours In: No Italiana
So 5 Italians Official Out and 2 Official in and 3 are rumoured out.
Italians in the squad Ricci, Gabbia and Terracciano. Were only Ricci is probably a starter and Gabbia a rotationplayer.
Again what happened to more Italians hahaha
This management are terrible and are liars like politicians hahaha
At least it was italian deadwood out. Relax, building Rome took time.
Italians not good palyers at moment so what is problem? If you like Italians players then look seria C and dont put here your joke comments.
Who do you bring in as italian? Milan needs for the new season a RB, LB, CF and needed midfielder after Reijnders exit. Do you know there are only 28 italian players whose market value (per Transfermarkt) are 20 M € or more? and of those 28 players 3 are goalkeepers and another 5 are Inter Milan players (for which is very likely then that Milan won’t go for them), so that leaves you with 20 players to choose from (taking in consideration that players valued under 20 M € could be considered not good enough). Those 20 players are: Tonali, Buongiorno, Moise Kean, Retegui, Udogie, Scalvini, Calafiori, Cambiaso, Rovella, Ricci, Locatelli, Comuzzo, Raspadori, Orsolini, Gatti, Bellanova, Scamacca, Gnonto, Lucca and Zaccagni.
So, Tonali should be an objective yes, to return to Milan, but in 2027 summer not now; in 2027 he will only have 1 year left in his contract (if he doesn’t renew it).
Buongiorno? Milan should had tried for him last season when Napoli got him, they should have sold Tomori and gone for him, but that ship has sailed. Moise Kean maybe for CF? guess he could be an option, but only has like a 30% performance in G+A in the last 4 seasons combined, he did good at Fiorentina last season yes, but did not good at Juventus the previous 3 years so honestly i’m not 100% convinced by how he would perform. Retegui, another ship that has sailed and seeing that Al-Qadsiah paid 68 M for him, there was no chance for this Milan management to go for him, but yes he would have been great, in 1 season at Genoa and 1 season at Atalanta, in a total of 80 games he did 37 goals and 12 assists, that is 49 G+A in 80 games, performance of 61%.
Udogie for LB? yes but too expensive, has contract until 2030. Scalvini is a risk to see how he will do after the long injury he had, he played not even 10 games last season. Calafiori yes i would have tried for him, a loan+buy option for the LB, but now Estupiñan is at the team and i think is a good signing. Cambiaso? yes but Juventus probably won’t sell and definetely not for a small fee. Rovella, yes i would have tried for him, supposedly Lazio would be open to sell him for 50 M, and Milan is said to have offered a package of 38 M for Jashari, but hey, maybe Jashari could be a better player between the 2 of them.
Then Ricci, signed, so, well done there. Locatelli? Juventus captain not an option. Comuzzo, just renewed contract so Fiore wil probably request big fee for him (Milan should have gone for Coppola but he was signed for 11 M by Brighton; there’s news Milan want Leoni, but Parma asking 30 M or more for a player that does not have a complete season in Serie A would be very risky business). Raspadori? i don’t see it, he’s a second striker and Milan does not use that profile in the team. Orsolini? good player yes but we have Pulisic, and i don’t think it could be said that Orsolini is the better player. Gatti? Juve player so not an option. Bellanova? has played more as right wing back than as a right back, so not an option. Scamaca? his numbers don’t impress and is recently recovering from a bad injury so no. Gnonto? has potential to be a very good player, but wouldn’t be a starter instead of Pulisic, and he probably wants playing time, and it makes sense he should have playing time, so no. Zaccagni? Lazio captain and left winger, so no. Lucca? Napoli got him for 35M (9M now, and 26 M next year), and Milan just paid 32 M for Gimenez in january, both are the same age, and is not like Lucca’s numbers are impressive, so i don’t see it as a missed chance at the moment.
So for next season, talking about italian players in the team:
– GK, Maignan continues so there is no need to look for an italian option, and 2nd and 3rd GK are italians, so i don’t see a problem here.
– RB, Kayode has just been bought by Brentford, he did good there in 6 months loan and now is a Brenford player, but i don’t see him as a no brainer option for the moment. Milan should keep an eye on him yes, for the future. Zanotti? Inter let him go, but has been doing good at Swiss League, so another one to keep an eye for.
– LB, Udogie too expensive and contract until 2030; Calafiori yes would have tried for him, but i’m ok with Estupiñán. What i would like for Milan to do though, is go for Tagliafico as an option, he’s free at the moment and has Italy as second citizenship, because Estupiñán has had injuries and Bertesaghi is still very inexperienced, so going for Tagliafico and offer a couple of seasons, i think would be good business.
– CB, would have sold Tomori last season to get Buongiorno, but that is the past. This season i would still look to sell Tomori, and Thiaw, but italian options are Comuzzo but recently renewed and probably won’t be small fee; Leoni, is too much what Parma asks for an still unproven player; Coppola would have been great choice, but already gone to Brighton for 11 M
– DM, Milan got Ricci; would think of trying for Rovella, but like i said in previous comment, let’s give Jashari the benefit of the doubt if that deal ends up being completed, he would be less expensive than Rovella.
– CM, would definetely try for Tonali, in 2027 summer, but this summer, who?
– CF, Retegui was for me the only italian option to consider, and he is now gone to Saudi Arabia.
– LW as back up for Leao, there’s no interesting options.
– RW as back up for Pulisic, would sell Chukwueze, and consider Chiesa or Berardi.
Now, for players with Italy as second citizenship, like i said before, this season i would go for Tagliafico, we already have Gimenez; Piquerez as LB back up would be another interesting option from Palmeiras. Balerdi and or Senesi as CB from Marseille and Bournemouth respectively if Tomori and/ or Thiaw leave.
For the future would keep an eye on: Nicolo Tresoldi, Facundo Buonanotte, Johnny Cardoso, Matías Soulé, Santiago Castro, Martinelli if Leao leaves in the next couple of seasons.
Italians r good for serie B ….🤭
Sure, that’s why we finished 8th last season with our international, diverse team while Napoli, Inter, Atalanta and Juventus who’s team core consist of Italians, finished in CL spots.