AC Milan are pushing to try and win the Scudetto and earn a second star above their crest, with a number of former players backing them to battle all the way for the title.
After the uncertainties of June following the farewells of Paolo Maldini and Sandro Tonali and the skepticism around the ownership, RedBird Capital have operated on the market in an authoritarive way.
They have delivered a renewed team to Stefano Pioli. While waiting for the first verdicts on the pitch, it is worth pointing out that the head coach has a deeper squad at his disposal with more depth across the field.
La Gazzetta dello Sport have spoken to a number of former Milan players about the mercato that the team have had so far and what the ambitions should be for 2023-24.
Alberico Evani: “After Maldini’s farewell, we thought of a savings market and instead, ‘sacrificed’ Tonali, targeted, functional purchases were made: Milan strengthened itself with fairly young and quality players, I am thinking of Okafor.
“It will take time to insert them but the quality is there and Pioli now has many alternatives. Napoli, Juve, Inter and Milan: the Scudetto is a matter between these teams.”
Mauro Tassotti: “The signings are of very good quality. I am thinking of Reijnders, who has great ease in reading the game, and Pulisic, who already knew each other, or Chukwueze and Okafor.
“If they recover the defensive solidity of the Scudetto, the Rossoneri will play against Napoli and Inter. There are no perfect teams: the Azzurri have changed coaches, Inzaghi has lost Lukaku and Dzeko…”
Giovanni Galli: “Intriguing market: players with a decent curriculum have arrived but who have everything to prove. Chukwueze can be the crack of the championship, he’s a faster Robben: he has technique, shooting and dribbling.
“Together with Atalanta and Fiorentina, Milan are the ones that have moved better. For the Scudetto, I’ll see who has changed the least later on, so if Napoli keep Osimhen… I’ll put Milan behind the Azzurri.”
Jose Altafini: “I followed the Rossoneri’s friendlies and I was impressed by the quality of the new arrivals, especially Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek and Reijnders. I think the Dutchman will succeed in not making Tonali feel missed.
“Milan have changed a lot on the transfer market, maybe they will need a little running-in, but Pioli has a great choice in attack: I am convinced they will do great things.”
Giovanni Stroppa: “The farewells of Maldini and Tonali surprised me. But then Milan moved, having sold a boy who could have become a bandiera, he immediately reinvested for profiles that can improve the team.
“I really like Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek and Okafor, all very fast. Pioli has more options and will be able to have fun: the Scudetto will be battled for with Juventus, Napoli and Inter.”
Filippo Galli: “For the Dcudetto I still see Napoli ahead of everyone, but Milan are certainly among the teams that will play for the title, on a par with Inter and Juve, who are strong but not yet complete.
“I see that the club has moved well on the market, going to reinforce the squad where there was more urgency to intervene. I like the signings, above all Pulisic and Reijnders, waiting to see the best Chukwueze: he and Leao on the wings can be devastating.”
Antonio Nocerino: “This Milan is worthy of the Scudetto. For me they could play and do well in the Premier League too, because he has players suited to that pace. Pioli has built a very aggressive team, he impressed me.
“Unknowns? I don’t see any, Milan has strengthened itself with players of international level and the transfer market was based on the coach’s game ideas. In Serie A, the Rossoneri are second to none.”
Stefano Eranio: “Pioli has a Scudetto-worthy team in his hands, right now Milan is the one that has strengthened the most and better.
“Reijnders already seems like a veteran to me, and watch out for Chukwueze, he dribbles and goes very fast: he has the exuberance of young talents, maybe he’ll be forgiven for a few empty nights as happened with Leao, but with the Nigerian Pioli he has much more quality in attack.”
Luca Antonini: “Milan are a well-made team and will have their say in the fight for the Scudetto. I tell the fans not to be frightened by the so-so results of friendlies: they don’t count for anything.
“Perhaps the Rossoneri will struggle a bit at first, but then they’ll put on a show: with people like Reijnders, who has an incredible personality, and Chukwueze, who is as quick as few others, it will be fun. And if a central defender arrives…”
As many of the guys have reiterated, Pioli now has a team worthy of the Scudetto, this will be his make or break season, and we saw in the Market, Cardinale and Co won’t tolerate failure. He has to prove himself if he wants to stay in the job.
I think what we can trust is ownerships greed. Imo they believe they invested in a brand that can be laddered back up to the level of Real and Barca etc. in this way they bought low (billion)so they could own high (billions). You can’t do that with a Newcastle or an arsenal, Inter etc. But you can with our beloved Milan. I think they believe better performance on the pitch will result in exponential value grown to their franchise because they knowingly bought a very special franchise. So yeah I think they have broke out the short leash and hope we see a good 5 year run where ownership is aggressive with the team (as well as the stadium).
You make it sound cynical, but I think you are more or less correct and it’s a great thing for Milanisti. The one thing you didn’t mention that I think is central to their vision for the project is building the new stadium. Success on the field + smart management + virtuous cycle with younger players + new stadium = new era unleashed that might put Milan back on the level of clubs like Madrid and Bayern. And yes, if they are successful in doing all that, their asset (the club) will most likely be worth 4 or 5 times what they invested to make the purchase. Genuinely a win-win.
Now all that’s left is the small task of making it all happen! 😂
Not if we are starting Rade Krunic.
That is a huge bummer. Sigh.
i mean if he starts and we are winning games nobody should whine about it..
Imao anyway
Agreed, he’s so bad, it’s embarassing. Pioli and him are boyfriend and girlfriend.
He’s a bum like Spider Rico!
…but not if we don’t sort out our defense…
“It will take time to insert them but the quality is there and Pioli now has many alternatives. Napoli, Juve, Inter and Milan: the Scudetto is a matter between these teams.” – Alberico Evani
“Milan have changed a lot on the transfer market, maybe they will need a little running-in, but Pioli has a great choice in attack: I am convinced they will do great things.” – Jose Altafini
“I really like Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek and Okafor, all very fast. Pioli has more options and will be able to have fun: the Scudetto will be battled for with Juventus, Napoli and Inter.” – Giovanni Stroppa
“This Milan is worthy of the Scudetto. For me they could play and do well in the Premier League too, because he has players suited to that pace. Pioli has built a very aggressive team, he impressed me.” – Antonio Nocerino
“Pioli has a Scudetto-worthy team in his hands, right now Milan is the one that has strengthened the most and better.” – Stefano Eranio
In other words, any failure is on PIOLI!
Let’s hope our beloved team can power through the season and win the Scudetto again with Pioli doing his magic. Winning UCL seems possible yet far fetched, since this is the first season with new players trying to blend in. The team has all the possibility to be the best team in the world with the right tactics and winning mentality. Forza Milan.