Arrigo Sacchi has praised AC Milan’s signing of Alvaro Morata and admitted that he likes some of the links that are currently doing the rounds in the media.
Pressure is once again beginning to dial up amid what has been a slow start to the summer mercato for the Rossoneri. Aside from the signing of Morata from Atletico Madrid, the incoming operations currently seem to be experiencing an impasse that is starting to frustrate fans.
However, there is also the feeling that things could move this week. Gerry Cardinale is in Italy and held a ‘marathon meeting’ with the management yesterday, while various sources claim ground is being made in the pursuits of Strahinja Pavlovic, Youssouf Fofana and Lazar Samardzic.
Sacchi spoke during a column for La Gazzetta dello Sport about various aspects of the Milan mercato including the addition of Morata and the names that continue to be heavily linked.
“Milan are trying to close for midfielder Fofana, after securing Morata, and continue to pursue Pavlovic. Operations that are acceptable as long as they have been agreed with the coach,” he began.
“The Rossoneri certainly needed some elements to complete the departments, but the rule always applies according to which, if you think you can win by buying only players, you are on the wrong path.
“Teams are not built by putting together stickers, but by giving an identity, a style, a game to the whole group. This is what I expect from Fonseca. Atalanta, this year, conquered the Europa League without spending stratospheric figures: it is the demonstration that work and ideas, in the long run, always pay off.
“I think that signing Morata, obviously if it is Fonseca’s wish (but I think there can be no doubt about that…), was an excellent move. The Spaniard is a lively centre-forward, who moves a lot on all fronts, who knows Italian football and, above all, who knows what needs to be done to win.
“He can be important on the pitch and in the dressing room, given his experience at international level: we must not forget that he is the captain of the Spain team that has just won the European title. It seems to me that Milan is working slowly to secure the players they have put under observation.
“I have already said it on other occasions: I do not intend to judge Fonseca based only on his last seasons. I hope he is up to the role they have entrusted him. A task of great responsibility, because coaching Milan is a difficult job, which gives considerable prestige and at the same time requires maximum commitment.
“The advice I can give to the directors is to follow the coach’s instructions on the market. The Rossoneri must bring in reliable and functional elements for the game that Fonseca intends to develop. I repeat the two adjectives, so there are no misunderstandings: reliable and functional. If one of these qualities is missing, then it is no good.
“The important thing is that Fonseca, in this period of negotiations, does not close his eyes and does not settle for who they bring him: that would be a very serious mistake. He must be vigilant and, if necessary (but I hope this does not happen), dig in his heels.
“The most important objective, for Milan, is to have a style. And a game can only be achieved if you have ideas and if you have the right interpreters to develop it. I will give you an example that comes from my experience: when I arrived at Milan and I looked into the eyes of Tassotti, Maldini, Baresi, Ancelotti, Filippo Galli, I told myself that we could build something great.
“As players I knew what they were capable of, but at that moment, at the first contact, I got to know them as men and they conveyed seriousness and security to me. We wonder, and the fans are right to ask, whether Milan is already ready to attempt the climb towards the Scudetto.
“I’m honest: I think Inter are a little further ahead, because they just won the title and because they have been working with the same coach and the same group for three years. However, I am convinced that, if the Rossoneri do the right things, then they will have the opportunity to skip ahead and accomplish something extraordinary.
“We did it like this: my Milan, which in the previous season had finished fifth in the standings, won the title at the first attempt. And then the Champions League, the Intercontinental Cup and so on… Projects must always be ambitious.
“The fundamental aspect is that the work has its strong point in the club, from the club the ideas and philosophy must be transmitted to the coach and the team. No selfishness, everyone on the pitch in the name of the collective. This is the rule if you want to go far.
“Milan fans expect a lot because they have had a lot: they have seen great play with me, with Capello, with Ancelotti and with other coaches. It is logical that they want to retrace the path of glory and Fonseca’s new team has the duty to guarantee spectacle and emotions.”
@Romano: Atlético Madrid are closing in on deal to sign Artem Dovbyk from Girona.
Final details being sorted on payment structure to match €40m release clause then agreement sealed.
Dovbyk has already agreed on personal terms, ready to move.
Here we go, soon.
Atalanta is lucky AF. First they went and sold hojlund for 75M then brought in some semi random players for relatively cheap and somehow manged to get to the finale of EL.
Let’s see them repeat that.
Also where does all that cash atalanta makes from selling go? It certainly isn’t going back into the team
In the last 5 years they made over 100M from sells. I just checked. We could say atalanta has 100M to spend on transfers but I doubt that cash is still around
In fairness to Atalanta, they do an amazing job.
They are a provincial Italian team that doesn’t have a world wide fan base.
What money they make on transfers keeps the lights on.
Whats more they play good football.
Their performance in the EL final was outstanding and a credit to the club and Italian football!
Semi random? You mean CDK and Scamacca who managed 40+ goal contributions?. Lol 😂 I’ll give you Bilal Toure though. Atalanta’s scouting department is excellent.
Scamacca and CDK are semi random players. Niether have really impressed before in italy or top tier football. So yeah they got lucky they gelled well and got those numbers. We shall see if that happens again
They are pretty proficient at buying low and selling for more.
Atalanta is not successful because they are lucky, that team has one of the best coach in the world he might be underrated in the media and to some young Football fans but imagine what you will get if you give Gasperini a top team and players that suit his system.
cute. also wrong. If he is as good as you think he is tell me… why did bayern hire Kompany and not go for Gasperini?
So… If Bayern isn’t interested in some coaches, they’re automatically useless? OK then.
does it have to be one or the other? what is it with you and extremes? All im saying is he isnt one of the best coaches in the world. Im NOT saying he is one of the worst ones. thats all you.
I just gave an example where he didnt get a better job even tho there was a vacany. he never got a better job in italy in the last 4 years and there have been a lot of vacanies.
So, please enlighten us then to which roles has he applied for and failed to get the job during the last 4 years?
Hard to gauge. Gasp has certainly done well at Atalanta, but that’s also thanks to the low expectations that the Bergamo outfit are used to and the fact that they have great scouting and excellent Sporting Director.
At a bigger club with brighter lights and better players with egos, Gaso might not work as well. As it is, he’s a hard cat to get along with and his system takes a while to learn.
I’d like to see Gasp take over the National Team to be honest. See how he does.
What kinda lame question is this
Atalanta’s model is what Milan current management aspire to become. Efficient, low cost, able to find raw talents and sell ’em high, has a strong team play identity, and able to win to titles once in awhile.
Quite different Milan’s and Atalanta transfer policy. Atalanta actually bring good talent for low cost and sell them high. Milan in the other hand buy players with good ratio between cost and performance. The young player they bought is either to introduce to the team or to loan them out and sale them. Like a small scale of Chelsea during Abramovich’s tenure.
“The Rossoneri must bring in reliable and functional elements for the game that Fonseca intends to develop.” Been saying this for how long now. Are the players we’re being linked with actually functional to the play we intend to have (or are they cheap alternatives)
he’s been sayin this for the last 5 years. and he is right. its just common senese not some Sacchi Sage wisdom. And we rarely buy functional elements. Apart from Puli and Reijnders idk if any other player we brought in the last 2 years was and actual reliable and functional element
Milan attack is 1 dimensional. Atlanta has more tricks and plays twin strike force. Milan needs to get back to twin strike system. 433 or 4231 just cannot take Milan far.
Took us to a scudeto.. so you’re wrong. In the last 5 years we finished 1st, twice 2nd, 4th and 6th. Not bad.
All the CL winners in the last 10 years, prior 2 real this season, played a 433 or 4231. So you’re wrong