Madrid to Azzurri, Leao to Pulisic: Milan forced to defy noise again before another big game

Before the Inter game, rumours spread about the future of AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri. Now, before a game of similar importance, the rumours have returned.

It is nothing new for rumours to spread through the season. However, they have a common occurrence to enter the Milan sphere before big games. In recent times, it has become almost frustrating to see it play out so regularly.

Before the game against Inter, there were suggestions that Allegri was unhappy to the point where he was considering what to do with his future. Of course, these rumours have since quietened, and even then there was little to suggest that there was substantial truth to them.

A failed plot, perhaps, to cause a shake in the Milanese camp. 

Now, just a few days before the game against Napoli, the Rossoneri are once again swarmed by rumours about their manager’s future. This time he is not alone, though. Instead, there are suggestions about their stars now as well. 

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Allegri’s future

Starting with Allegri, the current rumours are that he is being considered for the vacant Italian job, which he would also not reject immediately. There are several names attached to the role and all are understandable. 

It is important to remember that Milan do not have some up-and-coming Italian manager, they have Allegri. He is obviously going to be a candidate for the national team, especially when they need a reset to get back to their roots. See, it almost sounds familiar to the brief which brought him back to Milanello. 

We also could not pretend like the Diavolo are the only ones facing this. Antonio Conte is also being linked to the post. Yet, the links between the 58-year-old and the role that Gennaro Gattuso has just left feel infinitely more tangible.

As reported, the Rossoneri’s stance is already clear. They do not want to lose a manager who has already had a major impact on them this season, whom they respect highly. 

Additionally, they are not strangers to this situation, given that the suggestions about Real Madrid being at the window have only just stopped. What we’re trying to say, then, is that this does not feel like internal fears leaking.

Rather, it feels like outside noise trying to create panic or unrest. Logically, the FIGC will not rush to make an appointment and so there is no need for this to be discussed so soon, even if Gattuso has just left.

Much more needs to be sorted before a new manager is considered and it is not exactly like they need someone in the door before the summer. So, it feels enhanced by the timing. Again, not the first time. 

Leao and Pulisic

It is best to combine the situations of Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic here, given there are several overlaps. 

The current suggestions are that Leao is no longer unsellable and this would be the reason why the Diavolo have stalled the talks about his renewal. Admittedly, though, this has been a topic for longer than this week.

Then, there is the situation with Pulisic. Reports state that Milan are still determined to renew his contract, but it is him looking at alternative options. Again, nothing new. He was the one to put his contract renewal on hold almost 12 months ago. So, it is just an elongated continuation of this, really.

Is there a reason to panic in either situation? Possibly, but not now. 

Leao is under contract until 2028. He is the highest-paid player at the club and Massimiliano Allegri loves him. More importantly, he loves the club and it could not be clearer. Throughout this season, he has repeatedly put the red and black stripes above his physical health, as seen with his pubalgia issue. 

Is he the one pushing for a move? No. Do Milan need to renew his contract now? No. Yet, it would almost seem like he is being pushed out and for sale.

The fact remains what it has always been: he is available for the right price. Yes, it is lower than what it has been before, but that is not a distinctive ‘Leao is for sale, come and get him’ statement from Casa Milan.

With Pulisic, there is understandably a bit more urgency. Surprise, surprise, though, there is no need for it, really. When you look at his situation, he has a deal until the summer of 2027 with the option to extend for another year. 

It would be nice for the situation to be sorted sooner, but he publicly admitted that he was happy currently and with the pressures of the World Cup in America this summer and his recent scoring issues, there is enough on his shoulders. 

In the same way that the negative has been suggested, how about this? Milan and Pulisic have come to an agreement to postpone talks until he is ready to return to the table. When he is back at the level that he is happy with, as well as feeling less on edge about the potential Scudetto fight and the upcoming World Cup. 

Both suggestions can be true at the same time as being false. There is nothing concrete suggesting anything is either way, though.

Doing it again

As the Rossoneri showed against Inter, they can perform with headphones on and in Naples, they will have to do so again. It is already a tough enough game, thanks to the restrictions on Milan fans. So, the noise outside will mean little.

Instead, it feels more like an attempt to get in the heads of those outside of the camp again, with a hope that it seeps in. Will it? Well, there is one way to find out. 

However, from our perspective at least, it feels like another media storm filled with potential negatives.

Allegri is leaving, Pulisic doesn’t want to renew and the Diavolo are preparing to sell Leao. When you look at it like that, it seems pretty ridiculous, doesn’t it? Maybe it does happen, but it all just feels a bit too bad to be real and a bit too convenient to be happening right now.