AC Milan’s management are planning their summer transfer window with the presumption that Julen Lopetegui will be the new head coach, according to a report.
Based on the reports that have emerged over the past couple of days, there is a big split involving Milan. On the one hand there is the club who have chosen Lopetegui as the new coach for the next season, on the other the fans who have immediately started their protests.
Gerry Cardinale was ‘surprised by the reaction of the AC Milan fans’ as per this morning’s edition of Tuttosport and ‘not indifferent’ to the rather vocal expression of disapproval that came about on social media, like the petition against him titled ‘NOPEtegui’.
Matteo Moretto of Relevo spoke on the podcast La Fiera del Calcio (via Radio Rossonera) and he explained why Milan are so convinced by the idea of hiring Lopetegui, even if a final decision has not yet been made.
“The Lopetegui choice was not born in one or two weeks. It is a choice born after months of evaluations, after months of contacts and interviews. I broke the news at the beginning of February,” he said.
“He is a coach that Milan have been thinking about since the end of December, and the fact that he was a free agent at the time was a key point. At a certain point it was believed that Pioli’s cycle could end before its time, but the idea has always been to arrive at the end of the season and then part ways.
“Lopetegui is a name that the management have been evaluating for months. As far as methodologies, experience, attitude and preparation are concerned, he is the name that is most popular and closest.
“It’s a very important choice for this management, like those in the last mercato: everyone has a lot at stake. It is not a choice born in two seconds but a thoughtful choice. We must also take into account the economic part and exclude those coaches who earn 7, 8, 9 million euros like Tuchel and Amorim.”
Indeed, Moretto did report on Relevo back in February that the former Sevilla, Real Madrid and Spain manager is a name being considered by Milan. The Spaniard was last in charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers but left due to the finances of the Midlands club.
I’m even more surprised that this took months and they still chose him over motta. Don’t understand the thought process
“and the fact that he was a free agent at the time was a key point” ahaha, they want to compete for titles but are only looking at free and cheap managers. So far Red bird has shown nothing that would suggest that they are actually interested in titles and not just top 4 and getting those CL money.
Inter was in UCL finals last year and won the Scudetto this year.
Pretty sure Inzaghi was on the free.
Thuram was on the free.
Pavard was paid for only after sales.
Seems easy to ap and Milan’s money when it is not coming out of our pockets
1.Inzaghi is a solid young serie a coach with experience and actually has won trophies with lazio
2.Thuram was wanted by psg, rb Leipzig and the milan clubs
3.Pavard is a world class defender who has won the world cup and champions league. I don’t mind selling a good player if we go for a world class one
We are fighting mid table epl clubs for 60 year old lopetegui. No one minds free signings but they have to make sense.
Which young Italian coach who’s won trophies do you want Milan to hire? In fact name a young Italian coach who’s won anything significant?
I never asked for an Italian coach. Only that he is not past his prime. Motta, Conceicao would be my candidates as they can work with young players, would fit our project and they haven’t reached their peak
Exactly. Its one thing getting some free agent cause he is good, and its another one if you are getting him just cause he is free. Btw i said back then get Inzaghi he has potential as a coach, the guy one more titles in his first years as a coach then Pioli in a 20+ years career.
The Milan community who’s rejecting him has no Clou about football.
He’s a coach signed by Real Madrid.
And he failed there because the Spanish national team screwed him big time.
Before that he turned a fainting Spanish team into a menace.
That period messed him up psychologically.
He for sure is over Motta and Pioli and he beat Contes Inter in the EL Final.
Tactically there are not many above him.
I’d prefer a different profile but you are right. I don’t think there’s a coach that exists that has the qualities some of these people expect.