With the 2026 summer transfer window having concluded yesterday evening , the time has come for assessments.
As well as analysing the positive aspects of Milan‘s summer market, it is important to look at the other side of the coin, examining the negative aspects of Gerry Cardinale’s performance and that of his new transfer team.
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It is important that Cardinale took care of things in person, finally showing his face. This obviously doesn’t mean everything was perfect; on the contrary, some things clearly need improvement.
What left us perplexed at many points during the session was the planning, which seemed confusing both to old and new fans. After the first two signings, Ramos and Gila, over €100m between the two of them, we expected to continue improving the squad with targeted acquisitions for Amorim.
Instead, there was a long period of drought, interrupted by the purchase of Diawara for the future , which ended only in the last two weeks of the transfer window with the acquisitions of Moreira and Hutchinson (the latter on loan).
This was also dictated by poor selling. There were many players slated for sale, but, in the end, the only one who was actually sold was Leao for less than Cardinale would have liked. All the others -Nkunku, Ricci, Gimenez, Fofana – were loaned out, many for free.
Even Tomori remained in the squad and was reinstated after Amorim declared that those who didn’t leave wouldn’t be readmitted. In short, poor management of transfers began with the decision to leave so many players out after the tour, clearly undervaluing them, just days before the start of the season.
The result was very little revenue and problems that, in the worst case scenario, will be postponed until next year if the loaned players aren’t bought out, and one player (Tomori) who stays after being kicked out. Not the best for planning or harmony.
Returning to the signings, it’s clear to everyone that there remain clear gaps in Amorim’s squad, There are some positions that seem short in terms of numbers and, above all, quality.
In defence, the first two games alone, without taking anything away from De Winter’s efforts, have shown how much a middle central defender is needed who can raise the level, a bit like Gila is doing on the right.
With Rabiot vying for a role as an attacking midfielder, the midfield looks a bit light with just Modric, Musah, Jashari, and the young Comotto. Even on the left flank, sticking with Bartesaghi and Estupinan raises some doubts.
Finally, in attack, while it’s important to trust Camarda when the opportunity arises, facing an entire season in three competitions with only the teenager as Gonçalo Ramos’ backup seems like a big risk. The field, as always, will tell us the truth.
