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.
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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.