On Wednesday the news broke that AC Milan are pushing hard for Massimiliano Allegri, and further confirmations have arrived.
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According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) this morning, to return to the highest levels of Italian football – perhaps even European – and to rediscover the enthusiasm of a sad and disappointed fan base, there is no one better than Allegri.
He may be a defensive coach in a world of attacking game theorists, certainly all the online polls involving Rossoneri fans elect Allegri as the absolute favourite for the reset. The same goes for the management, from the CEO Giorgio Furlani to the new sporting director Igli Tare.
Allegri: The chosen one
The club considered two names: Allegri and Antonio Conte. Tare had Allegri at the top, because of his knowledge of the club and his desire for revenge. This is why Milan wasted no time, profitably carrying on contacts throughout the day yesterday.
There were positive discussions, which make the parties confident. The club absolutely needs a high-level coach and Max himself has always been open to a return to the Rossoneri. The competition from Napoli is not yet defeated, but a few metres from the finish line, Milan are ahead.
Aurelio De Laurentiis was forced to slow down while waiting for Conte to resolve his reservations, and then here is the Rossoneri’s attack. Milano is Allegri’s city, where he also has extra-sporting interests: an advantage that the club has tried to exploit to its advantage.
Napoli had a two-year contract ready at €6m net per season, and Milan are not willing to offer that much. One solution could be a three-year agreement (at around €5m), like the one just signed by the new sports director Tare, demonstrating the desire to start a long course together.
The ideal profile
As mentioned, the profile of the next Milan coach had been drawn for some time: an expert in Serie A and Europe, a coach who would guarantee immediate reconquest of the Champions League zone, a professional with personality, an authoritative voice in and out of the dressing room.
Max’s identikit fits in all respects: he has 14 seasons behind him, the the first two with Cagliari, four in his first Rossoneri spell and eight on the Juventus bench. He has 14 titles in the cabinet: six scudetti, three Supercoppa Italiani, five Coppa Italia.
If the first time he joined Milan Allegri was a gamble (one that Silvio Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani won), this time the club hopes that there is only winnings to be had. Allegri is considered a guarantee for the return to the richest European competition, that of the Champions League.
He has a strong personality, as many of the former Rossoneri champions or those met in Turin know. Max has dealt with emerging talents, established players, big stars up to Cristiano Ronaldo, who is a story in himself. Finally, Allegri is charismatically strong, listened to with respect.
The timing
Contacts will continue today, in an attempt to reach a definitive agreement on which the lawyers of the two parties will also work.
Milan can take advantage of the moment for the decisive sprint and make it happen by the weekend: the club can move freely and without any more uncertainties.
For this reason, it is now one step away from arriving, leaving Thiago Motta only as a possible reserve option. The classic plan B.
Even today, however, attention will be focused on Allegri. The important thing is to arrive a moment before the others, as Max knows well.