AC Milan will have a bit of a reshuffle this summer, and a number of stars can depart the club. However, there are also incomings planned.
A reset is no good if the ambition is not shown in both regions. You cannot sell stars to replace them with sub-par players. However, the sales also must be bold to support changes that are expected to arrive.
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So, it is worth looking at those that are outbound as well as the positions that Milan are looking to strengthen.
Before
We can only look at the picture now, so with Tijjani Reijnders as the sole departure. If the season starts tomorrow, then Milan News have listed that the lineup would look as follows.
Mike Maignan remains as the goalkeeper, Alex Jimenez at right-back, Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic in central defence and Theo at left-back. The midfield would be made up of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Youssouf Fofana and Yunus Musah.
Leading the line, as it was for Sergio Conceicao, would be Christian Pulisic, Santiago Gimenez and Rafael Leao.
After
The after picture is, actually, quite similar. Maignan, Pavlovic and Fofana remain, whilst the front three also stick in the picture.
However, Vanderson, as the report suggests on probability, would arrive from Monaco, then Giovanni Leoni from Parma and Oleksandr Zinchenko would make up the four. Luka Modric and Granit Xhaka are the next two in the midfield three, whilst Javi Guerra would play a back-up role.
Only five differences really, however, still five big signings that make the team look, arguably much more solid and potentially more content.
Worse or Better?
Finally, it is good to look at which team is better. You would certainly argue that the defences are pretty similar, though with different profiles, really. As it stands, the current team is much more attacking from the back.
Theo and Jimenez both are more attacking full-backs, which does take a little bit away from the new ‘team’, so to speak. Especially with Zinchenko more of an inverting option to add to the midfield, rather than a wing-back.
In midfield, the picture is much nicer, you would argue. Fofana remains a point of solidity, but the balance is certainly there with the latter, more than it is with the former. That goes for quality and actual profiles, too.
With that said, there is certainly less physicality in the new team, though the technical quality would certainly outweigh that.
It depends on Allegri’s preferences, but you would argue that the new team looks much better, and you are also starting to clear out some of the players who have been towards the end of their Milanese tenures.
“You cannot sell stars and replace them with sub-par players”
To me it sounds like that’s pretty much exactly what they’re doing
Reijnders didn’t come to Milan as a star, so I believe with the right scouting, they can discover more “Reijnders”.
Milan has no money to buy the stars you’re looking for.
Why can’t you all understand this.
The owner wants to also sell the club, he is as frustrated as you too, maybe you can connect your rich uncle to buy Milan while you earn commission fees in the process.
That way you save yourself the energy to rant and complain every godamn day.
If someone is going to buy big clubs like AC Milan and wants to compete in the top football leagues they have to be prepared to continuously spend money to maintain top level …. otherwise stay out from such business investment. It is ludicrous to see owners looking at football clubs as if they are a manufacturing company where money profit is their aim.
Now, this is the point.
Redbird never came forward to buy Milan, they cane in through Elliott and the Chinese guy’s failure to continue refinancing the capital.
All that could have been avoided had Berlusconi sold smartly to a rich investor, but even Berlusconi is not to blame, no rich investor has come forward till this point, and Cardinale is very willing to sell.
I believe, Berlusconi must have also set some standards that “If someone is going to buy big clubs like AC Milan and wants to compete in the top football leagues they have to be prepared to continuously spend money to maintain top level …. otherwise stay out from such business investment” but the reality is, they rather go to England and Spain and even France.
I promise you, Cardinale is as frustrated as us all, and the biggest gift he can receive right now is to get a buyer for Milan.
John you have the faith of early Christians haha you can decide that what is happening is enough for you as a fan but don’t try to convince other people that this club is doing well right now.
There are so many issues, most of them created by the mess at the top of the hierarchy, you can’t blame fans for being tired and angry.
I don’t want to sound condescending, but… nothing.
You know what? Just leave it, forget.
Be you mudaforker!
@john I don’t understand that comment at all.
Like how do you know exactly what the owner is or isn’t feeling? That being said and the way you’re implying, I doubt the frustration Gerry is feeling is the same as ours. His frustration is probably related to team valuation, budgets and fears his asset price drops further while most fans the frustration is with mismanagement invited by Gerry and with lack of ambition to win things.
And of all the players named you named the one player out of two who sort of “made it” from the 17-20 players we’ve gotten so far. The rest, yes, were and are sub par. It’s why we have to constantly replace them each year. And why would you want more Reinjders…so that Furlani can sell him in two years once he gets a sniff of some money? Do you not see what’s happening at the club??
Facts
I don’t blame Pulisic waiting to sign and I don’t see how the club looks stronger. We will see when it’s all said and done, but it looks like the Goalkeeper may leave as well as Leao and they’ve been rumoured one or two may go so a full assessment cannot be made yet but as things stand right now and the rumours of outgoing players persist I wouldn’t sign yet either.
I love AC, but standards are not being kept as it looks right now. I want to see player sign that will make them contenders again.
we should focus on these 5: Ricci, Frendrup, Dodo, deCuyper, Leoni…
4 are Serie A native and won’t have problem adjusting to the league
subs:
Torriani, Sportiello, Gabbia, Tomori, Barte, Jimenez, Modric*, Xhaka*, Bondo, Adli/Pobega, Alexis, Chiesa*, Immobile*, Jovic
subs will cost less than 20M if we get Chiesa on loan + option. the starting 5 would be close to 120-130M…
Theo, Thiaw, Musah, Chukwueze, RLC, Okafor, Colombo, Vasquez, Adli/Pobega sales reach that budget range
So Modric is leaving Real Madrid to play not back up Frendrup, Ricci and Fofana, lesser players than him?
Xhaka is leaving Bayer Leverkusen and playing in the UCL to come to Milan and backup Frendrup, Ricci and Fofana, lesser players than him.
Why would Chiesa come to Milan to be a backup when he is literally leaving Liverpool because he is a back up there and doesn’t get to play much?
If the midfield is Ricci, Fofana and Frendrup there will be zero creativity in that midfield. Swing the ball to the wings and pray that Leao or Pulisic can do something.
this unrealistic expectations of Modric being this starter player… he’s 40… even Zlatan was benched for Giroud
guys only know that he has Ballon D’Or and UCL titles and think that he’s any different. he’s human ffs…
Zlatan wasn’t benched, he was injured a lot and dealing with the knee that was surgically repaired while at ManUtd. Prior to his injuries he was one of the best strikers in the league at 40.
19/20 season, 18 games, 10 goals and 5 assists in serie A.
20/21 season, 19 games, 15 goals , 2 assists in serie A.
21/22 season 23 games, 8 goals, 3 assists in serie A.
Without the injuries he is the best striker in the league even at age 39, 40.
Unlike Zlatan, Modric has not had any significant injuries or surgeries in his career and he is one of the best conditioned footballers out there. You are stuck on he is 40. He isn’t a long term solution but there is no way he is playing behind average or below average players like Ricci, Frendrup and Fofana, no matter the age.
Ricci, Frendrup and Fofana all 3 combined had 4 goals and 11 assists last season for their teams.
Modric as a backup had 4 goals and 9 assists by himself for his team.
Serie A players are very mid.
Not to mention that he would be playing only 1 game a week, not every 3 days.
That’s why I like mandragora from fiorentina 10 goals, 5 assists in all comps this past season, highly underrated, and would definitely be better some some of these names milan are linked with. Modric even though not a full player every game, I think he would still be a good addition
you are comparing Modric at Real filled with competent players vs our team last season, Genoa and Torino…
glazing Modric doesn’t make you knowledgeable about football…
watch games instead, you will learn more that way
Modric will do the same at Milan as he did in Real (half starts, half from bench)… last season he only got 20 games full time worth of playing time out of 54… let the younger ones grow, that’s his and Xhaka’s roles for upcoming season
I agree with you about modric, he is not a full 90 minutes player every game, but de cuyper, chiesa, immobile have no place on this team, I’d also question frendrup
Frendrup isn’t a finished product, but he has potential and the weird limit that we have of only going for 20-25M targets, makes him a perfect target… we need someone tougher in CDM role, last year showed that
Chiesa and Immobile are cheap solutions, like Spinazzola for Napoli… midfield is non-existent and fullbacks are very bad, except Jimenez (who is more of a LM/RM player than natural fullback) and Barte (who has yet to step-up)
deCuyper is safe choice for me cause I honestly don’t see us signing Udogie, Cambiasso or anyone with these Americans in charge… Zinchenko is perma-injured, Truffert went to EPL to replace Kerkez (don’t get me started on the Hungarian), the rest are either too expensive or definitely worse than deCuyper
We could try Pavlovic as LB, but can he emulate Gvardiol?
Maaaan you know nothing about football if you talk about Luka Modric like he is just some 40 year old footballer… Probably an inter merda fan 😅
Maaaaan I have watched him since Tottenham… I know Modric, you imbeciles just don’t get that whoever the player is AGE matters… he’s not a starter and you can start watching games so you can finally get it…
Glazing mid players like Ricci and Frendrup doesn’t make you knowledgeable of football but yet you still going.
Ricci and Frendrup are players coming from mid table to relegation teams and we expect them to step up their level because you read their names in the media over the last 6 months or so?
Genoa and Torino are not Milan, just like this Milan isn’t Real Madrid.
Watch old man Modric be in contention for the midfielder of the year next season.
Your midfield formation of Ricci, Frendrup and Fofana is redundant with almost no ability to make forward passes. Maybe you should open your eyes when the game is on and you will understand something.
not glazing, Modric will be out in 1-2 year… those young player will stay… even if one of the 2 turn into a Kessie/Tonali level player than that’s worth…
Tiji was also underestimated… he had just high covered distances the year he came to us… last season he was MVP
you have to get through the thick head that we are forever broke until Serie A and/or owner get changed… we will never be singing 60-70M rated players
so we need to bring in them, when they are young and hope Modric and Xhaka can give them a proper lesson…
if any one of you actually were to touch grass and play sports, you will see that the intensity at which the game is at it’s not for 40 yos… Modric was CAM, now he’s CM, even more like deep playing playmaker (even for Croatia)
I’m not saying he’ll be useless or bench player… he will have an impact, but now directly like you clowns think and it will be evident when the league starts
“If the midfield is Ricci, Fofana and Frendrup there will be zero creativity in that midfield”
Anyway that was Liverpool’s system for years, and with a master coach, they excelled in that style of play.
They had Wijnaldum, Fabinho and Henderson as their midfielders, no creativity, but they used Alexander Arnold and Robertson to be their creative midfielders from fullback, working directly with Mane and Salah.
Football is an art, not science, Sacchi showed the world that in football ideas can be birthed.
Note: isn’t like I’m endorsing or in support of the Ricci, Fofana and Frendrup midfield.
I’m simply just referring to the midfield zero creativity comment.
finally someone sane
Pioli out
Why do we need three midfielders get Xhaka and Javi and play fofana as starter. These is a decent midfield and Xhaka with his experience can really make the entire team better and Xhaka is not even that old he is 32 he will given us 3-4 good seasons.
Good bye ItalMillan. Welcome BalcanMilan 🤔😂
We are doomed already and with sale of Theo the doom is doomed too!!!
Forza rossoneri…hope allegri will make molan great again…
*Milan