The second international break is underway and now is a good time to take stock of AC Milan’s start to the season. Several players have done very well, but is that reflected on the wage bill?
Unsurprisingly, Rafael Leao is the highest earner thanks to his renewal at the end of last season, with €5m per year as a base. He’s clearly the star of the team and deserves the salary, also considering his price tag on the market.
Calcio e Finanza published the whole wage bill at the start of September and you can see the full list below. While Leao isn’t a surprise, some might be a tad surprised to see Samuel Chukwueze at €4m per year. His breakthrough has not arrived yet, but he has looked promising.
For new players who arrived after 2 July, the tax relief is applied only for 2024 (and therefore for half the season, increasing the gross figure).
➤ Rafael Leao – 5 million net (6.55 gross)
➤ Theo Hernandez – 4 million net (5.24 gross)
➤ Ismael Bennacer – 4 million net (7.4 gross)
➤ Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 4 million net (5.24 gross)
➤ Christian Pulisic – 4 million net (6.32 gross)
➤ Samuel Chukwueze – 4 million net (6.32 gross)
➤ Fikayo Tomori – 3.5 million net (4.59 gross)
➤ Olivier Giroud – 3.5 million net (4.59 gross)
➤ Alessandro Florenzi – 3 million net (5.55 gross)
➤ Mike Maignan – 2.8 million net (3.67 gross)
➤ Luka Jovic – 2.5 million net (3.28 gross)
➤ Mattia Caldara – 2.2 million net (4.07 gross)
➤ Davide Calabria – 2 million net (3.7 gross)
➤ Pierre Kalulu – 2 million net (2.62 gross)
➤ Yunus Musah – 2 million net (3.16 gross)
➤ Noah Okafor – 2 million net (3.16 gross)
➤ Tijjani Rejinders – 1.7 million net (2.69 gross)
➤ Simon Kjaer – 1.5 million net (1.97 gross)
➤ Rade Krunic – 1.1 million net (2.04 gross)
➤ Tommaso Pobega – 1 million net (1.85 gross)
➤ Malick Thiaw – 800 thousand euros net (1.05 gross)
➤ Yacine Adli – 800 thousand euros net (1.05 gross)
➤ Luka Romero – 800 thousand euros net (1.05 gross)
➤ Antonio Mirante – 700 thousand euros net (1.3 gross)
➤ Marco Sportiello – 500 thousand euros net (925 thousand gross)
➤ Marco Pellegrino – 300 thousand euros net (555 thousand gross)
Total: €59.7m net (€89.9m gross).
Another interesting point is Tijjani Reijnders’ salary of €1.7m. He’s in for a contract adjustment if he can continue to impress, that’s for sure. One player who already is in negotiations with the club is Mike Maignan, expected to get closer or perhaps even past the €4m mark.
Florenzi and Giroud make how much?! This is madness…
What’s wrong with Giroud’s salary? He is one of the most important players. His presence isn’t far off from the effect Ibra had on the team.
People who don’t understand Giroud’s salary don’t understand sports. 🙂
Maignan’s salary is painful. I hope Cardinale does something quickly because it should not simply be about contract expiration dates. Bumping a player’s salary early has an emotional effect that benefits the entire team and his performance.
1.7 for Reijnders is a crime though
Yeah Reijnders will asks for more if he keeps performing like this.
1.7 for Reijnders is fabulous business. Probably the best “quality / salary”-ratio. Something that cannot be said about Chuku.
They all have realistic salaries.
Do not forget: Ac Milan is the club where all these players become stars. Not Lille, not PSG, not Chelsea, not Real Madrid but Ac Milan.
Also Ac Milan transfer policy give all players opportunities to multiply salaries by 3 times once adequate offer arrives.
Some players like Leao and Bennacer do have release clause in it, and someone like Kessie and Donnarumma left for free – but those who stub the club can never be welcomed again.
So Milan give them fair salaries and after while, they made good performance- bigger contracts.
In the books Milan pay for amortisation as well, so some players like Leao, Theo and Bennacer have smaller amortisation.
Tomori and new arrivals have much bigger amortisation, so in 2 or 3 years, when some of them going to have extended contracts, they total bill will showed smaller in books.
Ac Milan had a luck with the results when brave move Elliott decided to get rid of players with huge salaries.
Mirante earning more than Sportiello is surprising.
Chukwueze 4m? Seriously? I would question paying him 2m, 1.5m max. He’s getting paid higher than most of Milan’s starters.
He’s been poor for Milan so far. Unless he improves this year, he’s a really bad signing given the expensive cost & large salary.
I hope his performances improve as the season progresses.
Florenzi costing Milan almost as much as Calabria and Kalulu combined.
Florenzi, Caldara and Kjaer exits next summer should open space for more useful players.
Florenzi costing as much? Well… He’s been more useful on the pitch as the two as well this season, so… 😉
Thiaw needs a raise