AC Milan’s squad for 2026-27 is expected to feature an increased number of Italian players, especially with a return to playing in Europe.
Tuttosport write that the group for next season – regardless of who the coach and directors are – will have more of an Italian core to call upon, whether they are those already in the squad or those returning from loan.
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The Italian relaunch
Matteo Gabbia is one of the last remaining emblems of Milan, upholding the now rare principles and values that distinguished the club during its golden age. He is a captain without an armband and was hit hard by the end to 2025-26.
Gerry Cardinale didn’t mention him in his meeting with some media representatives nine days ago. This was likely an oversight by the owner, but that’s just a small detail. Gabbia will certainly be at the head of the group that will start the new season at Milanello in early July.
Samuele Ricci and Davide Bartesaghi will be too. The former Torino midfielder is coming off an up-and-down season, but one in which he never lacked commitment and dedication to the club. Like other players, he accepted being out of position to earn minutes.
He was used as a box-to-box player when he would more naturally be a deep-lying playmaker, i.e. the Luka Modric role. Samuele may not have caught everyone’s attention, but he gave it his all and did so with a great sense of belonging, understanding Milan’s values and knowing what this club represents.
It is a similar story for Bartesaghi. The full-back, after just a few games, pushed new arrival Pervis Estupinan out of the starting line-up, enjoying a very positive period between October and February. Then he had a dip as the team did, but a return to playing with a back four could help him.
Among the most anticipated returns are those of Christian Comotto and Francesco Camarda (once the option to buy and buy-back issues with Lecce have been resolved for the latter). The two 2008-born players are among the diamonds in the rough that Milan’s academy has produced.
They are fresh from two significant experiences with Spezia (Comotto) and Lecce, where they had their first real exposure to senior football. As did Kevin Zeroli, who developed extensively with Juve Stabia under the guidance of Ignazio Abate, who had already highlighted his talents in the Primavera.
In a Milan that needs its own identity, these young players could be the lifeblood of Milanese spirit that has been missing from the walls of Milanello for too long.
If only this would actually happen… Why spend money on foreign players who offer nothing more as opposed to your own developed talents? It would benefit the Italian DNA of Milan aswell as for the national team. It’s a normal pratice in every other European League. Italy should stop this whole loaning out your youth to crappy serie B/C/D teams and start trusting them more in Serie A. Foreign players are there to bring something extra to the team, not replace all players and shove aside your developing youth.
Maybe cause Italian talents are trash. Just like Barthesaghi is complete trash.
Bartesaghi is infinitely better than the expensive foreign trash who started the season at the same position.
Roughly 66% of the players in Serie A are foreign players and if you doesn’t play the locals because of saved taxes for foreign players salaries you will never know how good they are or could be.
I’m with B-Electronic’s views unless the foreign players brings something extraordinary to the table they have no business taking away jobs from the locals.
ACM 1899 is also correct Estupinan is the trash player of the two.
This is the dream scenario. Without Champions League football and funds, and the with the current managerial vacuum/chaos, Milan does not have the time or ability to quality players from abroad. We have to develop and evaluate the players at our disposal. We have a good pool of youngsters like Camarda, Cisse, Kostic, Chaka Traore, Sia, Comotto, Sala, Elutu, Cappelletti. We can supplement them with four or five experienced Serie A players like Keane, Pinamonti, Zaniolo, Lauriente, Rowe, Kone, Frendrup, Tavarez, Gila, Tiago Gabriel. We also have to deal with departures and returning loanees. Leao, Fullkrug, and Modric will leave. Rabiot and Maignan will have tempting offers. Gimenez, Loftus-Cheek, Musah, Estupinian SHOULD leave or be third/fourth options. I don’t know if Terracciano and Bondo are any good.
Next season should be treated like a pre-season for 2027-2028 with main goals being:
1. Build a strong core for the future
2. Avoid relegation
I agree with this concept, especially since we have hit rick bottom with the usual module last season.
We fans are going to need to be patient and young exciting potential world class players will need to be added for there to be interest and a good attractive playing style that can evolve into a winning team.
It may be time to take this route .
I really doubt anyone would complain if the club showed real effort in developing youngsters, even if results don’t come.
I hope you are Georgian and trolling on purpose cause F*CK KALADZE!
sell just: RLC, Leao and Estupinan (loan out Odogu and well Fulkrug will just leave)
buy: Brahim Daiz (until 2027) and Kulusevski (Tottenham even worse state than us) with Leao money; Gila, Grimaldo, Mateta
since 23 men isn’t enough and we might still lose Modric and couple other stars, while Tomori, Nkunku and Gimenez weren’t the most convincing in their season.
youngsters to use for filling the holes of the squad: Camarda, Comotto, Cisse, Zeroli, Bondo
I don’t want to have any more Italian, French, Belgian, American, Portuguese or Croatian players in the team! I want good players who will bring this team back to the Champions League and be competitive for winning the 20th Serie A championship. Names and nationality don’t matter.
I will use Maldinis Heirs usual musings here, if you don’t like Italian players go find a different team and from the sound of it go watch EPL, LA Liga or Bundesliga as that sounds like its more up your alley.
But I think he’s right in the sense that X player quality should take priority over the nationality.
If for the same position, we have 2 players of similiar qualities and profiles and one is Italian, I’d say to go for the Italian, but if the foreigner is much better, it makes more sense to go for the foreigner.
I have no issues with foreign players in Serie A but yes only if they are better or offer some insane potential. The clubs nevertheless still needs to live up to some rulesets both in the League and when playing European football so we cant just say it doesn’t matter at all as it will cost in how many players we can registre in for example CL.
Then there is the whole question of club identity contra mercenaries and also players accustomed to each other over years and even decades through the ranks.
Who says I don’t like Italian players? I don’t care what nationality a player is. I want quality players regardless of skin color, religion or nationality! It seems only you Martin have a problem with that..🤔
What, you named several nationalities that you by your own words didn’t want anymore of in the team so how about calm down with your accusations.