CEO Ivan Gazidis has spoken out on the stance that AC Milan have taken when it comes to the renewal of the contracts of key players.
Milan’s struggles with renewing key players has received some scrutiny from fans and the media, especially after Gianluigi Donnarumma and Hakan Calhanoglu left for PSG and Inter respectively with the club not receiving a single penny in transfer fee as their contracts expired.
The Rossoneri management are also currently battling to try and resolve the future of two players whose deals expire next June in midfielder Franck Kessie and defender Alessio Romagnoli. Both have true market values worth in the tens of millions but they could also walk away for free unless some solution is found.
Gazidis spoke at the shareholders’ meeting this evening during which the 2020-21 accounts were discussed, and he was asked about the club’s strategy on renewals.
“Decisions are never easy. All clubs negotiate with agents and everything is very sophisticated. In the past, players did not push to leave on a free transfer. Today, however, clubs operate responsibly from a financial point of view. But the players and agents think as if the Covid never happened,” he said (via MilanNews).
“To get to the figures they want, they have to go on a free transfer. We will continue to make decisions in the interest of the club, remaining competitive at top in Serie A and in Europe. But we cannot transcend economic sustainability. I think we may have made mistakes, but every decision was made for the good of the club.”
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Only issue i have with their approach is if a player hasnt renewed by july first with an expiring contract the clubs stance should be to make it clear to the players they will be immediately sold or getting benched for the remainder of their contracts as that should put enough pressure on the players to either renew or leave on our terms. In years of international tournaments it should also give an extra sentiment to sort out contracts instead of holding us out for fools.
Martin, yes, and I’d even argue that unfortunately this needs to be sorted out with 2 years left on their contract, because even at one year left the players have lots of power. A sale then is a cut rate, and benching for the final year deprives the club of a player that at the end of the day is getting paid to be on the pitch. Unfortunately, this is the condition clubs have to operate in. 5 year contracts are de facto 3 year contracts. After year three you renew for 5 again with an increase, or sell for full value. Players have too much power these days. We have Jean-Marc Bosman to thank for this.
2 years would be fine with me as well and i get we might not be fully ready to just bench players if not renewing as we isnt in the financial position or have the squad depth to do so yet but overall the club should not let its own players bully them. Overall i think bosman ruling of eu was for the better but believe premier league salaries and insane agents and players are the main issue of why we endup here.
Totally agree with you on that one
The issue of Jessie is complicated and Milan ran out of luck at it stand.
Milan couldn’t have brought up the idea of renewal 2yrs ago because Jessie was still playing sh**, his only good season was last one and this one right now.
so, like I said, Milan ran out of luck.
lastly, this Milan directors need to meet galiani and learn one of two things on how not to let your stars go away and most importantly, how to renewal your best players.
galiani and Berlusconi wouldn’t have let Gigio and Hakan go without making some money.
The only mistake is playing those in their final year of contract.
I understand that economic sustainability is important for the club given FFP restrictions. The club has to be firm and renew contracts two years in advance. If a player refused to renew two years before the contract ends, look for alternative and put him in the transfer market
Exactly my point too
This is a new normal in football world. Less about crazy transfer’s fee and more about free transfer and cut buy price
We did and would lose some but will gain some