It is no longer a secret that Igli Tare is the frontrunner to become the new sporting director of AC Milan, and it would end a soap opera that has exhausted even the most patient supporters.
Tare was initially believed to be close to joining Milan last month after two meetings with CEO Giorgio Furlani, one of them in person in Rome. Things then went quiet, but now the accelerator seems to have been pushed down by the leadership.
The Albanian is expected to sign a two-year contract with an option for a third, therefore guaranteeing a multi-year contract. There has been a flurry of speculation since about the head coach he might want and the transfer targets for the summer, naturally.
However, we can learn some things about how Tare will operate in the current construction site that is Milan ahead of the 2025-26 season based on some previous things that he has said.
Fountain of youth
A lot stems from an interview that Tare gave to DAZN in November 2024, therefore, a few months into the current season. The first point of interest is the former Lazio man’s opinion on Milan’s young jewels.
When asked by the broadcaster to name an XI made up of the top Italian talents for the future, four Rossoneri players were present: Davide Bartesaghi in the defence, Kevin Zeroli in midfield, then Mattia Liberali and Francesco Camarda in the attack.
That shows that he thinks pretty highly of those four players, and also that he has been watching the development of some of Milan’s bright sparks closely. Thus, we can expect to see him have a very hands-on role regarding their paths for the future.
“Camarda should be waited for. The expectations around him are too high now, but I think Milan is the right club, they know how to work well and develop young players. I think Camarda can have an important future, but the right path must be created for his growth. He is a player who knows how to score goals and knows how to be in the right place at the right time,” he said.
“I am also a fan of Liberali, I like him a lot, he is a player that when I saw him for the first time gave me something important, I was excited to see such a young player play with great personality even in the summer preparation with Milan in America against top teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona. It is not for everyone. He is also a young man who can give a lot to Italian football.”
The reports emerging already reflect this. According to Daniele Longo of Calciomercato.com, the renewal of Liberali’s contract is ‘among Tare’s objectives’ given that he is out of contract in just over 12 months.
With this deadline in mind, Milan must sit down with Liberali and his entourage to sort out a plan for the future, amid rumours that Atalanta and Fiorentina are monitoring his situation. Inter have even been linked recently, which caused a predictable stir.
The lack of positive news has even led to suggestions that Liberali is actually more likely to leave than to renew. That being said, a lot of things have been on pause while a director was chosen, and now Tare should arrive, so things can get moving again.
Davide Bartesaghi and Lorenzo Torriani put pen to paper on contracts until 2030 on Wednesday, so they are safeguarded for the future, but perhaps the most important decision will concern the immediate future for Camarda.
The same report from Daniele Longo suggested that Tare could send the teenage striker out on loan to get more senior minutes in a competitive environment, especially with the Futuro being relegated. As a reminder, he was close to heading to Monza in January before Zlatan Ibrahimovic personally blocked it – with Tare, things could be different.
Italian identity
Given that Tare spent a decade and a half at Lazio, he has built a network of connections within Italy and we can expect to see that utilised to the full as he looks to put his stamp on the current squad.
What is very intriguing about the line-up of Azzurri gems he named in November 2024 is that Giovanni Leoni and Pietro Comuzzo are present as the centre-back pairing. Both are now starters for Parma and Fiorentina at a very young age, so he got that spot on.
More interesting than that is the fact that both Leoni and Comuzzo were named as Milan targets in a piece by La Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday. While it is perhaps a big jump from publicly declared admiration to them wearing the red and black shirt, the signs are there that Tare might try.
We have more comments to refer to when it comes to the head coach, something that is generating its own sub-section of news. Tare was a guest on Tring Sport Albania to cover the Champions League games between Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain vs. Aston Villa.
He was on a panel along with fellow Albanian and fellow ex-Lazio man Lorik Cana, and he was asked about the Milan rumours that are doing the rounds, with Calciomercato.com relayed his comments.
“I can’t say anything (laughs). They have a good squad and can compete for the Scudetto. The best Italian coaches? Allegri and Conte,” he said.
The conversation then moved on to Napoli, coached by the latter: “Napoli have a team that is not strong enough to be there competing for the Scudetto until May. Their strong point is Antonio Conte, who is a phenomenon. Wherever he goes, he has an immediate impact.”
So, what can we expect? Well, it is not even slightly surprising to read that Allegri is an option for Milan in what would be a return over a decade after his first spell. If Tare thinks he is in the top two Italian coaches, and he is currently available, it could really be a case of 1+1=2.
The other names linked are Vincenzo Italiano, Maurizio Sarri, Roberto De Zerbi and Thiago Motta – do you see the theme developing? The bottom line is that the Albanian will almost certainly turn to an Italian coach, one that knows the dynamics of Serie A inside out as he does.
An under-performing core
Referring back to the DAZN segment from six months ago, Tare had some interesting things to say about the struggles Milan were going through at that times, ones that would ultimately extend throughout the duration of a disastrous 2024-25 campaign.
“Unfortunately, Milan lacks consistency in results, seeing the others running fast they are called to not make any more mistakes. This is the key word at this moment. Players like Leao, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Theo Hernandez, Fofana, are players who can give much more. They too must raise the bar,” he said.
From the above, you can pick from two interpretations. The first is that Tare highly rates all of the players that he mentions and believes that they are fit to build around with the right environment. The second is that he thinks they are not pulling their weight and might look to ship them out.
We feel that the former is more likely, and while a lot of player trading is expected this summer – especially without any European football to call upon – the director will have almost certainly identified a core to build around that he thinks can offer more.
Moreover, a massive squad overhaul will be made more difficult by the financial situation worsening. Having recorded a small profit in the last two years in the accounts, Milan will have a gap of €80-100m – depending on whose estimates you believe – with no Europe.
While waiting to understand RedBird Capital’s strategy regarding whether to invest more to make up for a poor season or to sell players to plug the gap, the idea of a €100m+ net spending spree feels unrealistic and irresponsible. Thus, Tare will have to try get more out of what he has now.
An awful lot will depend on the incoming head coach of course, because they will have their own tactical identity, their own style of play, their own system and thus their own thoughts on certain players from that.
Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez face an uncertain future at the club, and Marco Parolo – who was brought to Lazio from Parma by Tare – recently revealed that he will already have a plan in place.
“He’ll surely have a conversation with them to clarify things. For him, the club always comes first. If a player tries to put himself above anything else, he’s unlikely to get along with Tare or stay at the club. If I know him well, he already knows who to sign and who to sell,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
To summarise, it would be naive to think that Tare hasn’t been plotting his first moves for Milan since those initial discussions weeks ago. We are about to see his plan put into place, and with so much on the to-do list, it promises to be a fascinating summer.
Tare thinks that players from the Milan core are not pulling their weight?
Seems like a smart man. Let see if he is competent enough to ship most of them out.
“For him, the club always comes first. If a player tries to put himself above anything else, he’s unlikely to get along with Tare or stay at the club.”
I like the sound of that.
The only issue is, will he be allowed to actually work autonomously? Or will Furlani micromanage everything?
Good question. And that will either make or break the season for us. Let’s hope everyone rows in the same direction…make Milan great again🤑
Furlani… won’t get in the way… that way.. he mostly… as a CFO which is his more natural role, will just make sure the plaN Tare wants can be feasible….
I don’t think he is the problem, as far as I remember he never really did anything to prevent Maldini or Massara from doing their job. I believe the problem is Zlatan as decision maker and Mocanda as his second hand. I don’t think either of them have done a good enough job. Hopefully Tare as the main guy and these two behind will be more directive and conclusive
I like it. Put young Torriani between the sticks and Gabbia as captain.
Let us regain our identity…🔴⚫
gabbia is not good enough to be a starter if we want to contend for anything in serie a
Agreed. I still haven’t forgiven Gabbia for that dumb slip in the Zagreb game that changed our season.
+1
I want more Italians but just forc8jg it like that.. I mean that idea is fcking crazy.. gabbia???? Captain???
I want another better defender, Italian if possible starting over him.
All CBs are backup material. We need 2 starters IMO.
Don’t be fooled by any of it he’ll do exactly what Elliot tells him to do his appointment will be a total waste of time and if he’s got a long contract an expensive one to.
Allegri awaits .
I followed the whole news and saw people on the comments saying or even so called Milan News or Influencers (Milan Fan‘s) that Igli Tare was the last Option cause everybody else turned us down and he is Not the right choice! But the whole people forget that Paolo Maldini before his exit wanted to get Tare as SD and Pirlo as the trainer After Pioli!!! So i could end up good.
Personally I have no issues with us hiring Tare even if he wouldn’t be my first choice he certainly isn’t some novice that doesn’t know his trade as he has had his share of success at an arguably smaller club with usually a smaller amount to spend than we should be able to do. The real question here which already has been asked further up is if he will have some decisive power or if he will just have to follow suit all the time because then the choice will be more about appearance than an actual sports director.
If he actually gets decisive power than I believe this choice wouldn’t be so bad at all.
Maldini did a fantastic job at the club but whether he actually wanted to hire Pirlo might just have been a rumor so I wouldn’t put too much into that.
If you want some youth and italian identity, next season was the right time to level up Milan players from futuro / primavera. No European football, just serie A and copa Italia. The time is now. Sell all the rubbish players to slim your wage budget.
1987, after Milan promotion to serie A again, they make this methods. The name like paolo maldini, albertini, massaro etc. the rest is history…
There’s zero chance that Albertini or Massaro or most of the Italian players from that team would make it today.
They’d be loaned out of death and then eventually sold.
They’d probably put be playing in Serie B.
It’a not the quality of the players but the total lack of focus on their development.
Allbertini was loaned out before his breakthrough and Massaro arrived when he was 25 or something from fiorentina so quit it you doesnt even know Milans players past even if i to some extent sympathize with some of your views of keeping our homegrown players.
Well given I don’t care about nearly any of the players any more I’m up for a bit of revolution.
It’ll still be empty looking at whoever fills the RB spot.
You mean in Como ?
Is there a revolution going on in Como ?
If the management really sign this man as director, they defenitely are anti milan..!
Allegri is a top 2 coaches among Italian? A big joke.
Good with his idea and this team,we again will be 10 or worst. If some remember my comments i was tell we will without Europe and im not wrong. With this guy and some bad italians players we will great at midle table again
MoneyYourBall Moncada.. hehehe