AC Milan were dealt a blow by Markus Krösche, who decided to stay at Eintracht Frankfurt, and now they need to settle on a different candidate
Krösche and his right-hand man, Timmo Hardung, appeared to be just one step away but the big brake in negotiations happened yesterday. After reflecting on his future, the German decided that it was best to stay at Frankfurt.
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As highlighted by Gazzetta dello Sport this morning (see featured image), Gerry Cardinale had hoped to fill the Head of Football position quickly after the Amorim appointment. It doesn’t look like it will happen now, though.
No dice
The failure to secure Krösche was largely a question of timing, as the paper continues. It’s the second half of June and Frankfurt have already begun planning for next season, with Krösche at the heart of everything given his massive role.
Frankfurt, as such, made it clear that they didn’t want to lose him even if there was a verbal agreement with Milan. There were intense meetings with the Rossoneri between Saturday and yesterday morning, when he eventually decided to abandon the idea.
The contract was the major issue, seeing as his current one runs until 2028, and Frankfurt’s request for compensation. Anyway, barring any unlikely U-turns, Krösche and Hardung will not be joining Milan this summer.
Candidates to consider
Krösche, in the meetings with Cardinale and his men, had identified Amorim as the right coach to replace Massimiliano Allegri. Milan, however, have made it known that the German wasn’t the only Head of Football candidate to express a favourable opinion on the Portuguese coach.
Amorim has already signed a three-year contract with an option for a fourth season, worth approximately €3.5m per season. This is a significant commitment, both in terms of the contract duration and the financial outlay, underscoring the ambition and long-term nature.
As such, it’s only logical to assume that the Head of Football will emerge from the select circle of directors that Milan have already probed, and specifically those for hiring Amorim. Among these, one could be José Boto, currently at Flamengo, but a compatriot and with a shared past at Benfica.
In recent weeks, Milan had also evaluated the young Devin Özek, who left Fenerbahce and has also been explored by several European clubs. Perhaps he will make a comeback now that the seemingly first option (the Krösche-Hardung partnership) has fallen through.
In the background, the former Borussia Dortmund player Sebastian Kehl is also a potential candidate. In the last few hours, an intermediary has proposed Jason Ayto, fresh from his time at Brighton.
Ayto speaks Italian, as does Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director, who spent his teenage years in Bergamo where he also became a huge Milan fan. That said, his departure from the Reds remains unlikely for now.
Time is running out
As you can tell from the above, there are many options but time is running out for Milan, who are already significantly behind in their planning for the summer mercato. This cannot be overstated, especially given the radical change in style and tactics with the hiring of Amorim.
Amorim has arrived alone for now, without a club to welcome him and with whom he can actively discuss the team. That’s not a good start, is it?
This club is a joke now. Already hired a coach for directors who are no longer coming, so they have to try to make the fans believe the new director wants Amorim. What a joke.
The level of unprofessionalism is mindblowing.
Another scenario, however, cannot be ruled out: Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s temptation to promote his friend Jovan Kirovski , currently director of Milan Futuro. One caveat, however, is that the American would not be eligible for the role of sporting director because he did not complete the course at Unisalento last year and therefore did not take the exam at Coverciano.
Kirovski is Ibra’s boyfriend, the couple is having a good time in LA right now
And ibra is cardinale’s boyfriend, menage a trois…
That’s so funny guys. Saying a guy is another guys boyfriend. Top class humour. You should try out for Kill Tony.
Maldini incoming 😂
At this point the conspiracy theories that all of this is being done deliberately don’t sound all that crazy. Most of the stuff from the last 3 weeks is literally ideas from a brainstorming session that people who have been tasked to destroy Milan would have.
The incompetency of this ownership is beyond comprehension. What we’re witnessing for the past 4 years has never been seen before in football world, at least not at a club of such stature.
We’ve become a mockery. And worst of all it affects our sporting side.
To strip and downgrade a Scudetto winning team and its successful corporate structure in a matter of 3 seasons is something for books on how NOT TO.
The deeper we fall the harder it’ll be to climb back up. And by the time Gerry’s done with us and wants to sell, we’ll be left on a level of Ajax. A club with profits but stripped of global ambitions.
Don’t worry guys, it’s all according to the master plan. 😂😂😂
The Cardinale-Ibrahimovich Clown Car continues to careen on under the Big Circus Tent
Are there no Italian Sporting Directors worth approaching? Maybe some one with Milan Heritage?
Honestly name one?
Galliani, Sartori, Carbone, Maldini, Baresi, Leonardo, Rui Costa, Boban all experienced directors & ex-Milan players e/ Galliani
Now I’m expecting for the new sd to not be on the same page with amorim, he will buy random players that amorim will not use and all of us will be living in a groundhog day… and let’s not forget, there will be interviews with Gerry the genius where hell say he is winning while Ibra will be hiding like the coward he is while Milan is 8th in the standings. REDBIRD WOLRD!
Kirovski Is going to be the next director, they already hired a coach and think about it guys what professional director would give up on his job to come to Milan? The coach is already chosen, the budget is very limited and depends on sales and most importantly take orders from Zlatan
Totally agree.
Nobody is going to join the careening Clown Car.
Only Kirovski is going to be willing to take the Sporting Director spot with Ibra constantly looking over his shoulder, and that is because he has no other job or career, is utterly incompetent, and depends entirely on Ibra for even being at Milan
Scaroni trusts Cardinale’s magic touch. We should, too … SAID NO ONE EVER.
🤣🤣🤣
I am making a statement here. Amorim is not alone. I know it’s not ours to claim but you never walk alone!!!
El Milan alcanzo su grandeza gracias a que Berlusconi y Galianni llevaban los mejores jugadores de la epoca y gracias a eso ganaron todo , pero cardinale hoy quiere traer descartes , o jugadores de 2do y 3er nivel y con eso no nos alcanza para competir jamas .
Eintracht Frankfurt is a better team
They shouldn’t have fired Furlani. He got deals over the line and stopped Ibrahimovic from interfering.