AC Milan head into the 2023-24 season with a lot of new faces to try and gel together, and that is why Rafael Leao has such a crucial role to play.
Today’s edition of Corriere della Sera (via PianetaMilan) talks about how Milan are shaping up heading into the new season, one that begins with Stefano Pioli and his squad looking for that 20th Scudetto that would bring the second star.
The summer mercato has revolutionised Milan, bringing quantity and quality. Sandro Tonali was sold to Newcastle United for €80m including bonuses – a figure no club in Italy can reject – which gave Giorgio Furlani Geoffrey Moncada cash to spend.
The CEO and chief scout then did well to identify eight players who changed the face of the team: Samuel Chukwueze, Noah Okafor, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tijjani Reijnders, Yunus Musah, Marco Sportiello and Luka Romero.
Over €100m has been invested in the summer window so far, with more signings to follow, but Milan have carefully avoided big names with big salaries, focusing instead on young players and prospects.
The aim is to create a more solid, vertical and European Milan with more physicality, more distance covered and a more aggressive style of play.
However, there are concerns too. Pierre Kalulu and Fikayo Tomori must return to the Scudetto season level, especially given that in the first 10 rounds of action Milan will play five of the top seven clubs.
Pioli has worked on the new formation and will play with the 4-3-3, even if the 4-2-3-1 of the Scudetto-winning season will not be scrapped and could be used.
Attention will have to be paid to Pulisic too, because if the version from Borussia Dortmund and from his first couple of years at Chelsea returns, it’s a great signing.
The purchase of Chukwueze could be a masterstroke. He has speed, dribbling, provides assists and goals, and he can transform the right flank.
However, the needle in the balance at Milan will always remain the star player, Rafael Leao. It will be the year of truth for him too after a contract renewal brought him a quadrupled salary and an extra dose of responsibility.
The new Milan needs not only his goals, but also his new leadership, now that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has abdicated the throne.
Hoping this is positive spin/wishful thinking and not a desecent into the delusional.
If it is the former, you should work for the US Gov’t.
Midfield doesn’t really look promising compared to the others and especially in CL. It was actually the main cause of conceding so many goals. We’ll see after first 5 matches.
Shhhhh 🤫 lol
ppl been trying to give the warning
Is baffles me how Pioli is very stubborn and reluctant using 433 with Krunic as regista. And I’m also concerned that we don’t have a proper CF and DM. An issue that is consistently overlooked by the management.
3-4-3 doesn’t work well with Leao and we don’t have the players for a 4-4-2 or a 3-5-2. So it’s gonna be a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1.