Zlatan Ibrahimovic has promised AC Milan fans that new signings will arrive this summer, confirming that the pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee is now over.
The first day of preseason begins today and there are no new additions to the senior squad given that Geoffrey Moncada and his team are yet to complete any incoming business thus far, which is perhaps not ideal for the new head coach Paulo Fonseca.
The most talked-about issue is the fact that Milan are still without a centre-forward after the departure of Olivier Giroud, and this is the main headline that is taking centre stage on the day of the raduno.
Giroud has gone to the United States meaning Noah Okafor and Luka Jovic are the options at the moment, with both on vacation after the European Championship. Zirkzee looked set to arrive, but then things fell apart and he is now Manchester-bound.
Ibrahimovic spoke alongside Fonseca who was unveiled to the media and the Milan fans in a press conference today and he was asked a few questions about planning for the future. MilanNews relayed his comments.
An opening statement…
“Good morning everyone, welcome to Paulo Fonseca. First day of training at Milanello. Today we are talking about the present, a few days ago we talked about the Futuro. We are happy that the day has come to present Fonseca.
“It is part of our ideas and our strategy: we are studying many things that will come. We are in no hurry. We are very excited, we are very hungry and we have a great desire to begin this new adventure, we are happy. We are excited.”
Can you give us an update on the market? How is the Zirkzee situation?
“We are studying, we are talking. We are in no hurry. The mercato is long. I can guarantee that new signings will arrive. We are talking, discussing. There is nothing done. Zirkee is in the past. We have one in mind, but I will not say the name. There is someone we are aiming for.
“To sign players you also have to create space. We don’t want to have a squad of 30 players, but 23. The new signings will arrive, but we also have to create space so as not to have too many players who are not functional to the coach.
“We have to think not only about who comes in, but also about who will leave. Whoever arrives is to improve the team, everything is designed to improve the roster. It’s not just sign, sign, sign, we don’t have to have 40-50 players like in American soccer.”
What can you tell us about Theo Hernandez’s future?
“Theo is a Milan player. We are lucky that we have 3 players in the semi-finals of the European Championship. He is a Milan player, we know that he is very happy here and his family are fine.
“With the new coach he will have much more space to play the way he likes. Fonseca’s game will also be built on him, it will go very well and I am not worried.”
Origi and Ballo-Touré are not included in the list of players called up for the training camp…
“Origi and Ballo-Touré have been called up, but for Milan Futuro. They are not part of the first team project.”
What will be done to fix the injury problem from last year?
“It’s not just a matter for the coach and the staff. We’ve changed a lot in the medical area. When we had so many injuries we weren’t satisfied. There have also been changes in the medical area, we think we’ve found the right path.”
Are you disappointed that Kia Joorabchian has not lowered his commission demands?
“No. Never disappointed. This is part of football. Reality and rumours are two different things. There are agents who solve problems and agents who create problems. In this case it was neither. The rumours that were going around were not the same as reality. We have an idea for the attack, we hope it comes in as quickly as possible.”
Fonseca will live at Milanello at first…
“Because it costs less (laughs). It’s nice at Milanello. There are journalists who are always outside and want to live inside, but you have to pay the rent, eh (laughs).”
Is it possible for Milan to have three strikers for next season?
“We need to find a solution for those who won’t have space. For the three strikers: one is mister X, the one we’re aiming for. Then it depends on the situations. Jovic is ours. Then it depends on the mister, how many strikers he needs.
“We want to have players who will be used, they shouldn’t be here to waste time. Then there’s the Milan Futuro that we want to push, we want to give the lads the opportunity: but there’s no responsibility on them. Three strikers are possible, nothing is impossible. Let’s see what happens.”
Today the Curva Sud will not be present at the gathering…
“I understand this passion and ambition that they expect. I understand that the fans want to win, but we are on the same page. Today there will be no ultras because many important players are missing, I understand. In the end it is a question of love. We do this to satisfy them.
“Being at Milan means having to deal with pressure, those who work here know that you have to win. Is there a guarantee? No. But we are all in the same boat. We all go straight together, we pedal and we get there. Miracles do not exist, God did not create the world in one day, but in seven days. We are on the first day.”