Since last season, pressure has been piling on Gerry Cardinale and RedBird to improve AC Milan’s chances on the pitch. In addition to the managerial switch and signings, they are getting there slowly but steadily, as argued by Pietro Mazzara.
The group-stage exit from the Champions League last season, as well as the big gap with Inter, caused frustration among the fans and change was clearly needed this summer. Paulo Fonseca was brought in and several targeted signings were made.
While the verdict is still out on the effect, there has been a shift in how RedBird conducts its business, or at least the start of a shift. In our long interview with MilanNews.it’s Pietro Mazzara, available in full on our Substack, we asked about the ownership and what is needed.
From an Italian point of view, which perhaps is hard for the fans abroad and myself included to picture, what are your thoughts on the ownership of RedBird and Gerry Cardinale? Can the project go far?
“I think that the RedBird ownership is in a discovering process. Here in Italy, the sport cannot be compared with American sports, and the same goes for the mentality in American sports. Outside the pitch, RedBird are doing an amazing job because the AC Milan brand is growing and the revenue is still increasing, and next month the result will be positive for the second year in a row. And this is a great achievement.
“However, you know, the results on the pitch are the main source of income. I don’t know what is going to happen with Paulo Fonseca, because he won the derby and we were so happy, but I think they have to understand that positive emotions must be created among the fans.
“We lived a summer without emotions, we all expected a huge reaction to Inter clinching their second star. Clearly, this didn’t happen just like choosing Fonseca when there were a lot of big names on the market, like Conte, Sarri and Tuchel. They chose Fonseca and we don’t know what’s going to happen. Of course, I hope that Milan will have an amazing season and reach the second star, because we need it as an answer to Inter.
“I think that they [RedBird] have to split their mentality. Outside the pitch, they need to think like Americans but for everything that concerns the pitch, they need to think as Europeans, as Italians, as Milanisti. The fans, and also us journalists as sources of news and the press, need to believe in what we are talking about.
“RedBird are slowly understanding this, I believe, as a big club they need to think globally but inside this global vision, they must not forget the sporting factors. If you don’t win over the fans, those who love Milan will start saying ‘with this money, I can go out with my girlfriend or wife for dinner, and it will still be less than going to San Siro, buying merchandise’ and so on. Stuff that helps Milan increase its revenue,” he stated.
By keeping the stars and making some good signings, Milan have taken a step in the right direction but more is still needed. Cardinale is fully aware of the situation and in another bonus on our Substack, we explained at length why top four is no longer the minimum for the Rossoneri – given their ambitions and increasing costs.
What milanisti? This club with hoarder Moncada are just pilling a bunch of nobodies and deadwood in hope they’ll be punching above their weight, elevate their value and be shipped out for a profit while we stay competitive or better yet – to participate.
Tonali was sold and they brought in bunch of mediocre replacements that we’re still patching to this day. Gabbia was already pushed out last summer but fortunately with all the injuries, came back and was our pillar. This season if it wasn’t for Inter goal he’d probably be stuck rotting on bench. Calabria is being pushed out and hated so much they went and threw away money for an even worse player. Maldini’s a prohibited last name in club’s premises, hated so much they gave the young talent away for free and now he’s a NT player.
The ones from Futuro? Many of them should already be regular part of first team but instead we’re out there looking at the likes of Chukwuemeka and Rios who again won’t fit our system same as our other dozens of millions wasted bunch. Most of our Futuro talents will seek opportunity elsewhere potentially settling and succeeding at our rivals, while we’re stuck with moneyball nobodies. Cause they’re cheaper, easier to market globally and elevate their value. But it’s not really going as planned now is it.
Yeah I agree that some youngsters should play. Sadly Fonseca was already trying to save his job after three games so he can’t rotate.
And that myth that Redbird is doing “an amazing job” with the brand and revenue… The club was already skyrocketing thanks to the previous management and the good results of the team but somehow we have to thank Redbird for just existing. Or maybe I underestimate the impact of Musah on the US market that is the current focus of Associazione Calcio Milan.
The writer implores Redbird to start thinking and acting like Milanisti…get them to start work towards striking a balance between off pitch and on pitch successes…exactly what all of us are saying…so help us get that point across and echo the story