Gerry Cardinale has made his decision on the head coach role: he wants to keep Massimiliano Allegri, and will satisfy his demands.
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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.
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.