Journalist Franco Ordine believes that Milan have learned their lesson from previous big-money failures and now aim to build sustainably.
Even though the season feels like it has only just ended and both the European Championships and Copa America are in full flow, there is a lot of attention surrounding Milan’s summer mercato and how Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara plan to build on the squad ahead of a return to the Champions League.
MilanNews writes how the Rossoneri management have spent about €28m to secure Fikayo Tomori’s stay which, when added to the €13m paid to Lille for Mike Maignan, makes Milan the Italian club that has so far spent the most on the market.
The well-known journalist Franco Ordine spoke during his column for MilanNews, and among the interesting points of discussion was his response to those fans who are criticising the management for not spending big early in the window.
“There are those who do not understand much about market football and sustainable football, unfortunately. In fact, there are those who are convinced that time has not passed, that the Covid has not ruined the budgets and above all that there are still in circulation presidents like Silvio Berlusconi who, at the end of the season, made up for any kind of deficit, even at 3 figures,” he began.
“I continue to argue that the path of loans – young profiles of the future with the flexibility of an option to buy – is the right one to avoid errors that then weigh on the coffers. Think of Elliott’s latest AC Milan. When Leonardo did his own thing, he loaded Paquetà and Piatek on his shoulders and then struggled to sell them without serious losses.
“Think of Leao himself who never took flight: was he worth 28 million? Think instead of Tomori (redeemed in full), Meitè and Mandzukic, the market last January. The two who did not work were sent back home, the defender instead, who is a discovery, became a Milan player outright.
“Think also of Dalot and Diaz who, despite returning to Manchester United and Real Madrid, have made it known that they intend to return to Milanello. A sign that a good job has been done and above all that they feel fulfilled at Milan.
“The AC Milan plan approved by Elliott and prepared by Maldini (with the contribution of Pioli) is the following: the squad will have to be wider and more solid than the previous one. This means that for example the contracts of Calabria and Kessiè expiring in 2022 will be renegotiated before the new season resumes (22 August).”
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