AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has named the final starting XI of the summer preseason campaign, and it is one that has gone against the media reports.
There are just four days until the Serie A opener against Torino, and Milan’s final warm-up sees them take on their Lombardy neighbours in the Silvio Berlusconi trophy after returning from the United States where they beat Manchester City (3-2), Real Madrid (1-0) and Barcelona (4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw).
It was reported in the build-up that Fonseca would name a strong side, and Mike Maignan is between the sticks for the first time in preseason. Davide Calabria, Malick Thiaw, Matteo Gabbia and Filippo Terracciano are the back four from right to left.
However, the surprises start from the rearguard. Yunus Musah and Yacine Adli are in the midfield double pivot, which is somewhat of a shock given that the latter has struggled for minutes so far in preseason.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is playing further forward in the attacking midfielder position he played in last season and that is because Christian Pulisic will miss the game due to an ankle knock.
Alexis Saelemaekers and Rafael Leao are the right and left wingers respectively, with the other new addition Alvaro Morata leading the line.
Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Gabbia, Terracciano; Musah, Adli; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Morata.
Bench: Raveyre, Torriani, Bennacer, Jovic, Reijnders , Okafor, Zeroli, Theo, Jimenez, Chukwueze, Tomori, Liberali, Pavlovic, Pogeba, Cuenca.
Official Monza (3-4-2-1): Pizzignacco; Izzo, Marì, Carboni; Pereira, Bondo, Sensi, Kyriakopoulos; Maldini, Vignato; Marić.
Bench: Mazza, Sorrentino; Bettella, Birindelli, Caldirola; D’Alessandro, Gagliardini, Machin, Pessina, Valoti; Diaw, Marras, Mota Carvalho, Petagna.