Leonardo has criticised American funds for not understanding the assets they are investing in when it comes to Italian football, while he also commented on the idea of returning to AC Milan.
The Brazilian attended an event at the Teatro Sociale in Trento, the ‘Football Business Forum’, an international panel on the world of football and club management included in the packed programme of the Trento Sports Festival organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The panel was organised in collaboration with the SDA Bocconi University in Milan and was attended by the president of Torino and RCS MediaGroup Urbano Cairo, the president of La Liga Javier Tebas, the president of Porto André Villas-Boas and the owner of Lille Alessandro Barnaba.
The president of Marseille Pablo Longoria was there, as was Edwin van der Sar the former director of Ajax. Leonardo was asked by reporters what he thinks about the influx of USA-based investment into Italian football, with his comments relayed by Calciomercato.com.
“There are different ways to invest. I believe in long-term projects, even if in football it is becoming complicated to plan beyond two or three years and in this world it is difficult to make a short-term project also because many investors speculate,” he began.
“In ten years, PSG has been able to build a solid brand. For example, on the other hand, Milan has changed owners four times in ten years. It is difficult to build functioning projects like this.
“Cases of presidents who manage to manage a club for many years are increasingly rare. If I think back to my experience, it began with Silvio Berlusconi , an important man for football and Italy.
“In recent years, many American funds have decided to invest in Italy and Europe in football, as it is cheaper and more advantageous than doing it in their home country. However, these funds often lack high-level management, there are no adequate directors.
“It is difficult to work if you do not know the context of the city, the tradition and history of the club you are in, it becomes difficult to build a project for the team. If we look at the current situation in football, we have not yet arrived at a concrete long-term situation.
“I have not yet seen a better organisation than those of the past. As for me, I do not consider myself a great director, but only a former good player. However, over the years I have learned a lot about football management.
“Is Fonseca the right man for Milan? Who am I to say… He’s just started and all coaches need time, it seems like a trivial thing but it’s like that. Would I return to Milan as a director? I’m happy at home, I don’t have much intention of returning to football like he did before.
“As a coach it’s definitely out of the question, but not even as a sporting director, after finishing with PSG I decided that I would take another path which will certainly be in football – because it’s my life – but in a different way. On Ibrahimovic and his new role let’s say that I have no answer.”
In terms of being a successful director, many believe that Milan are still feeling the effects of the transfer flops that were carried out while Leonardo was in charge of recruitment.
If anyone has first-hand knowledge in inadequate directors, it is Leonardo.
Sacchi is bigger than Klopp Little Boy
Check their resume lil fanboy.
Klopp won national titles in 2 different leagues.
He took 2 different teams from 2 different leagues to the UCL final.
He has won more titles overall.
Sacchi outside of 3 years at Milan when he had the 2 best players in the world at the time, never won jack and never had any success at all.
Sacchi’s ego is bigger than Klopp’s
Klopps Pool was Not. an unique Team. Klopp was a Coach Not a Reformer! Sacchi and Italy won the second Place at the world Cup 1994. I love Klopp but there was a lot of Money at Liverpool. Football is a Team Sport an the EPL has Money Like Punk .
I think you Are neither from Italy or England or another famous Football Nation? You Are mein enough it hink so
Man enough
Being a reformer doesn’t make you a great coach or bigger than someone who is way more successful than you.
Neither from Italy or England or any FAMOUS football nation. I’m here going back and forth with a Lil boy who defends Sacchi because he is coming from a FAMOUS football nation and Sacchi is famous.
Sit this one out.
Klopp, Capello, Ancelotti, Lippi, Mourinho, Guardiola, Alex Ferguson, etc, all bigger than Sacchi.
Not Only two Players won Titels
Maldini and bares were in their own positions as good as v. Basten and gullit! But Iam not really interested in your anti-italian opinion.
You are not helping yourself with more emotional responses.
Not only Sacchi had the 2 best players in the world at the time, but also 2 of the top 3 defenders ever in the same squad. That team would have won even without Sacchi. Proof for that is that Capello who came after Sacchi had more success. 4 scudetti in 5 years and 3 straight UCL finals.
Capello is an Italian coach, so i guess that takes away your dumb ass anti Italian argument.
Klopp is Not strong enough to Train the national Team. I want it but he ist finished with Coaching!
Capello was the Hero from 1994 and I will always Praise hin but his Performances with England and russia were a crying shame! His Coaching in spain was good but without international Titels! In your opinion Ancelotti and mourinho Are the Best Coaches of all Times! I like all the Coaches you mentioned but you Are Full of hate because sacchi is Not a oneworld fanatic!
Capello won with Milan, Real Madrid. Roma, Juventus, now you going to talk about national teams, like Sacchi won anything with the NT.
Roberto Baggio on his own dragged Italy to the world cup final in 94.
Even Aldo Serena said that Italy got to the world cup final in spite of Sacchi not because of him recently when he came out to defend Baggio from Sacchi blaming him for losing that WC final.
You should stop.
Anyone else can talk about milan but not Leonardo he is more than useless for managing business
Sacchi: 2 Titels cl
Klopp: 1 Titel
Sacchi 2 trips to the UCL and got to play Steaua and Benfica.
Klopp 4 trips to the final with 2 different teams and got to play Real Madrid twice, Bayern and Tottenham.
Stop embarrassing yourself.
Klopp had Money from all oder the Word Multi-Culture Boy
Milan was financed by an italian Businessman
Sacchi Killed real 5:0 Dortmund was Not worth to Play against Bayern
Tottenham was a one Trick Pony Not more
You Are against sacchi because he likes no Open borders!
And Sacchi won with Berlusconi’s money. Berlusconi at that time was the richest owner in football.
Klopp also won with Dortmund. You seem to forget that little part.
Sacchi outside of the 3 years at Milan was nothing, absolutely nothing.
Klopp will still coach the national team that’s why he left a clause in his contract to leave RedBull.
Germany is Not your Country but mine and I would give you 1000 Euro that he is Not fit for This! Klopp is one of my Favoriten Coaches and I Hope to See ihm on the Bensch but I can Not Imagine
Dortmund won with Klopp national!
In one Point wie are close together I Hope. 1994 was the biggest final ever Milan vs. Barca 8 Italians vs. 8 Spaniards! This was Football with Soul, love and emotions! Today we See Finals with Teams which Are Not fit to Play with 3 Players from the own Country. This is worthless!
Who cares about Sacchi? Ancelloti will go down as the greatest Italian coaches bigger than Sacchi.