Gerry Cardinale has made his decision on the head coach role: he wants to keep Massimiliano Allegri, and will satisfy his demands.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the mission for the next few days is simple: beat Cagliari, secure a spot in the Champions League and then move forward with Allegri. Sunday night gives Milan a chance to seal their place in the top four and the millions that would come from it.
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Including guaranteed UEFA revenue, box office receipts and sponsor bonuses, the figure is around €100m, as the coach explained. From Monday onwards the future must be planned, and the former Juventus coach is considered a key piece.
To be clear: the goal is to keep him in the dug out with a contract extended until 2028 and more lucrative than his current one (salary raised from €5m to €6m net per year plus bonuses). There is no need for negotiations, as the current agreement already includes a one-year extension with top four.
Napoli’s courtship of Allegri isn’t being underestimated at Milan, but it’s not being viewed as a major worry. The club intends to reiterate once again how central the coach is to Cardinale’s plan to bring Milan back to winning ways.
No exit clause
The agreement signed at the end of May doesn’t include a release clause, which would have meant that another club – with Allegri’s approval – could pay a predetermined fee to sign him. The same clause has been very popular (and has been for some time) in the Premier League.
Allegri didn’t feel the need to include it when he said yes to his return to Milanello. Of course, almost 12 months have passed since the signing of his deal, and a lot has happened, not all of which Max has met with a smile.
For him, the roadmap presented to him when he was convinced by CEO Giorgio Furlani, sporting director Igli Tare and the owner Cardinale still applies. Year one was all about stabilising, with the goal of returning to the Champions League and ‘limited’ investment due to the lack of revenue from UEFA.
Then, the second and third seasons will be more ambitious, with the hunt for a second star, thanks in part to the greater availability guaranteed by Champions League participation. In short, Allegri has focused on the vision of building a winning team again and wants to make this project a reality.
Now he’s one step closer to the first target being achieved: returning to the top European competition. That step must be taken on Sunday evening, and then many things will likely be sorted out after discussions with the owners and management.
Vote of confidence
Cardinale holds Max in high regard: it’s no secret that the American greatly appreciates his work, and it’s no coincidence that the RedBird founder explained in last week’s interview with Gazzetta that he’s already begun planning for the future by speaking with the manager.
On Sunday, after the match against Genoa before leaving the stadium, Cardinale spoke to the team. He praised them for their performance, but especially complimented his coach, who kept the team afloat during a difficult period, with five defeats in eight games.
Cardinale appreciated the reaction during Milan’s most stressful moment, in the do-or-die match against Genoa. For him, who knows the world of sport well, it was a crucial sign of personality and character, especially from his leader.
Allegri expects the Rossoneri squad to be strengthened and expanded, with the arrival of players with international experience and a winning mentality. Cardinale will do everything he can to please him: he wants Milan to be sustainable, but at the same time he doesn’t want to lose his coach.
On the transfer market, therefore, he will instruct his men (whoever they are) to listen to Max’s input, while understanding that he won’t be able to waste more money. A centre-forward will be the main addition, one who guarantees goals.
Finding another coach like Allegri isn’t easy, and Cardinale knows it. Compared to last year, the atmosphere at Milanello has changed, and the results bear witness to it. The fact that the team don’t play champagne football isn’t a crucial factor: the American is interested in results above all.
We all read this 12 months ago, here we go again. Actually, they didn’t say nothing about “the hunt” not being included in our plans this season (too), we are Milan and we need to strive for the starS, not a single word about Top 4 or some s*** like that should come from their mouths ever again.
Breaking: Cardinale has no clue about football…
Considering most of you think the same about Allegri, maybe it’s you?
Or maybe it’s you?
A: “sweeper” DC, Leon, LWB, SC
B: backup SC (Gimenez OUT)
C: backup left DC (Odogu OUT)
D: RWB
E: right DC (Tomori OUT), FW/SS (Nkunku OUT)
Maignan (Terracciano, Torriani)- De Winter (Tomori), ??? (Gabbia), Pavlovic (Odogu)- Alexis (Athekame), GORETZKA (Fofana), Modric (Ricci), Rabiot (Ardon),
??? (Bartesaghi)- Pulisic (Nkunku), ??? (Gimenez); (23)
+ RWB + Bondo, Comotto/Zeroli and Camarda (27)
Ok, he figured out that if you hire a manager you should get the players he needs for his system, not random. Great, we are back to 2019.
These are just headlines. With this Milan you have to see the moves to understand their intentions. Everyone is paving Gerry as finally having gotten his s**t together to organize Milan into a functioning unit, yet if Gerry had his act together at the end of the last season.
Wait to see what he actually does (if anything) after the season ends.
Max is that one guy who falls for every fake piece of gossip and rumor that they churn out. He’s not that bright.
Or else he is just another one of Allegri’s minions in here trying to convince everyone that it would be a good thing to have to suffer through another season of the most boring, ugly, unwatchable football on the planet. It’s really that bad. I used to have friends over to watch the Milan games, now I’m too embarrassed. I suffer through it because I’m a Milan fan, but why would anyone else want to watch this cowardly display of anti-football.
I am not a fan of 352 formation. All what I need is a change in system, and he frees his players to play their game, not that backward, anti-football he wants us to watch. For this reason I am keenly monitoring the type of players he will request.
So Allegri can fill the team with aging players on high wages with zero width and unable to win in Europe. Embarrassing us on the world stage with his brand of football and financially crippling us for the next 5 years. Its okay though, he has “character”
No, we should Fabregas who cares more about playing good than getting a good result. I’m sure you have an even better idea like Farioli.
No, but there are better options than Allegri available. Iraiola? Mancini if he doesn’t take the Italy job. Look at Emery and what he has done with Villa who was available around the time of Lopetegui.
This club needs consistency because starting from 0 again after Pioli, after the Portuguese managers, after Allegri. You want a fifth new manager and style of play and reset everything? Look at what Arsenal did, stuck with their manager. See this project through, see what Allegri can do with actual players he wants. If we see he can’t deliver next year then decide his fate. But to restart again next season with who? Italaiano? You think we’ll win the scudetto with Italiano?
Look at Arsenal’s roster and purse… put Arteta in a mid table club and he’ll bore you into relegation.
For those who are emotionally invested: “The romantic football you mourn died the moment broadcasting rights, sovereign wealth funds, and American hedge funds took control of the game.
You call it a ‘supermarket’ or a ‘bank,’ but here’s the bitter truth: the mid-table clubs that tried to deliver ‘passionate entertainment’ without rigorous corporate governance are now either bankrupt, sold for a pittance, or playing in the lower leagues. Ask the fans of Bordeaux, Schalke, or even Parma if they prefer ‘institutional stability’ or romantic collapse. Allegri wasn’t appointed to create art; he was appointed as a crisis manager to ensure the club didn’t fall into the ranks of Europe’s mid-table teams. If you want a theatrical spectacle, go to the opera. If you want a sustainable elite club in 2026, face reality.”
OMG. Yes, the only way is the re*arded US way where you probably won’t win anything. why are there so many losers like you? Football is not that. Get back to NBA, NFL or whatever you want to watch. Leagues where no one is relegated and you can buy a franchise and move it to any town you want. Yes, we all want that, no place for emotions, just for re*ards like you.
Isn’t Liverpool and arsenal owned by US owners so STFU
Yes, great examples.
Liverpool 19 years since US takeover – 3 major titles. Amazing.
Arsenal, even better. 19 years – 1 major title.
What has improved? Arsenal won more titles before US owners. Liverpool was missing that Premier League and last year they won because the rest was sh*t. 😀
Wtf are you talking about? Oh, I know, nothing, you have no clue, you just shot 2 clubs you heard are owned by them and that is it. Good job, sit down now.
Should we compare to some other owners? 😀
Hey Max, You know Inter is American owned too right? Such a terribly run club… You probably did not.
Inter is US owned in the same way Milan was US owned by Elliot. It dropped into their lap because another Chinese couldn’t repay his loan due to his government not allowing the funds transfer out of China. However, they inherited a club that was winning titles, with a manager and all in place. They did nothing. Let’s be realistic. Elliot did a lot for AC Milan.
Everyone knows that. ?
@MK
Inter has had continuity for years run by a competent crew. Gerry’s muppets reset every summer. Not all ownerships are the same.
Why don’t you mention Manchester United? Or Chelsea? 😀 They are doing even better.
Max you’re being ridiculous, the nationality of the owner has no bearing on if they are “good” or not. How many trophies has Newcastle won? PSG has 1 CL trophy and they literally had to spend a billion dollars to acquire the right combination of players. How many French or English owned teams won a major trophy this year? How many Spanish teams not named RM or Barca have won anything meaningful in the last 30 years? How many trophies has west ham won.
You don’t make compelling arguments, you just sound angry. Get help buddy
😀 Wow. You really got me now. PSG wasn’t winning titles before the Qatari takeover, they had only 2 in their history. So they won quite a few of those Ligue 1 titles since that. Or that is random? And a Champions League. Liverpool spent close to 1 billion dollars net since US takeover for how many titles? Arsenal spent just a bit less than PSG in that same period. For what exactly? Net spend on transfers. So what exactly are you talking about? I know you’re a genius and you’ll explain. What are you trying to say? That these clubs didn’t spend money? 😀 What is the point?
Manchester United -€1,701.31m
Man City -€1,370.79m
PSG -€1,368.97m
Arsenal -€1,284.61m
Liverpool -€912.04m
Do you need more clubs? Now do titles. How many titles did these club win? National championship and CL. How much did each spend per title?
US owned Arsenal spent 86 million € less than City to win 1 PL title compared to 8 of City. Great! Now I am convinced I was completely wrong. I’m sure you have something else intelligent to add. I’ll wait.
Why do you get triggered so easily man? 🙂
You let others’ opinions get to you too much. This is what happens here. Exchange of ideas and people coming to vent. Just take it at face value.
If everyone thought like you, you’d be in an echo chamber.
Triggered? You mean replying to a comment? Ok. Cool. I don’t care if you don’t like something I wrote. It is your problem, not mine.
There’s replying to a comment and then there’s MadMax’ing it. Just saying…
Yeah, but I don’t care. I don’t mind you saying, or anyone else, whatever they want. I just don’t care. And if I don’t like something I say what I think. If it bothers you I’m sorry, but still, your problem. Not mine.
I think he does care lol
I think Max is actually Allegri’s son. That can be the only explanation for his craziness. He can’t understand why nobody else wants to sit through another season of this ugly, cowardly football.
He doesn’t understand that for most people who have actual lives, sports is entertainment. They look forward to watching the game every week to be entertained for a couple hours. Milan under Allegri is the opposite of that.
Yes. You got it. That high IQ you have helped to come up with this delusion. 😀
Max has thin skin you guys. Make sure to be extra nice to him.
“The real stupidity and intellectual backwardness is living in 2026 while your mind is still stuck in the 1990s, a decade that’s gone and will never return.
Shouting, wailing, and cursing ‘Americans and the capitalist system’ won’t pay players’ salaries, build stadiums, or settle the debts left behind by romantics like yourself. You lament the promotion and relegation system and traditions? Go tell that to Bordeaux fans who wake up today to find their once-great club playing in the amateur leagues because of ‘romanticism’ and mismanagement. Go ask Schalke and Parma fans about the taste of ‘spirit and passion’ when their clubs became lifeless corpses sold for a pittance.
The American sports system you mock is the only system in the world that transforms clubs into sustainable, multi-billion-dollar entities that never die or go bankrupt. As for your ‘sacred’ European system, if it weren’t for the money from American hedge funds and sovereign wealth funds, which you call backward, half of Europe’s major clubs would be bankrupt by now.” The courts.
Milan isn’t a charity to nurture your fragile emotions; it’s a major commercial enterprise whose goal is to remain among the elite. Allegri didn’t come to write love poems; he came to collect points and secure Champions League money, without which your favorite club wouldn’t even be able to buy a single pair of boots for one player.
If you lack the awareness to understand how financial empires operate, and you think football is just 22 runs after a piece of leather, then leave the elite and institutional discussions and go watch amateur street leagues. Only there will you find the cheap romance that suits your limited intellect.
First of all this not a difficult issues at all let’s analyse this acmilan for now are purely attacking team thats our identity and will play more of pressing. So our formation we should concentrate on should be a 4-2-3-1 will need at least two attacking midfielders players like adrenj schedrup of Benfica and Brahimi Diaz then we need to add a new left and right winger with a solid top nine striker capable of scoring goals with strong defender that can support Pavlovic then we a right and left defender then let’s get Vincenzo Italiano or farioli Francisco as head coach and watch if acmilan will not lift the league and also progress to champions league final I told you is a minor problem that can be settled.
Check Stefano Pioli system and Allegri what’s the difference Acmilan score much goals in the 4-2-3-1 than the 4-3-3 because acmilan are used to attacking and pressing.
Cardinale opted for financial security and guaranteed domestic results, preferring them to venturing into a new attacking identity.
The final verdict: From a short term commercial and investment perspective, the decision is entirely correct for Red Bird, as it protects the team’s domestic gains and closes the door on moves by rivals (such as Napoli).
However, it carries a clear risk in the long run; building an entire transfer market around the wishes of a pragmatic coach might guarantee Milan a European spot every year, but it could set a low ceiling on the team’s ambitions to compete for major titles, which require flexibility and a more modern tactical identity.