Since Elliott Management took over following the Chinese ownership of AC Milan, they have set about making the accounts look a lot healthier.
La Gazzetta dello Sport recall how Yongong Li’s Milan bet on the arrival of certain players on high salaries and with huge transfer fees, betting on the idea of winning a trophy or at the very least securing an immediate return to the Champions League to help comply with Financial Fair Play, but it backfired.
Now, things have gone more towards a cost-containment policy and there is an internal salary ceiling set at €4m net per season, with some exceptions to that like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who would actually earn below that if he renews.
It was used for Olivier Giroud who – as a reigning world and European champion – receives €3.5m per year, and it will be used for new signings like Sven Botman, Renato Sanches and Divock Origi (if they arrive in the end).
The report describes it as a sort of anti-waste philosophy that Elliott would have implemented equally even without the necessity imposed by the UEFA parameters and the Settlement Agreement, because their strategy as a fund is to reduce unnecessary costs.
The players considered to be cornerstones of the team have seen their salaries increase considerably, but within certain limits. This is seen through how Theo Hernandez went from €1.5m to €4m, and more or less the same will happen for Leao and Bennacer.
Perhaps the future of Alessio Romagnoli is another great example. His deal is expiring, he is the captain of Milan, but the club do not want to pay him his current €6m net per season, so the offer on the table is between €2.5-3m per year, which is a big pay cut but one they believe to be fair.
