Normally a distant figure when it comes to key matters at AC Milan, president Paolo Scaroni has spoken out about what is going on at the club in a revealing interview.
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the club at present, summarised perfectly by the sacking of Zvonimir Boban over the weekend after comments he made claiming Gazidis went behind the back of the directors to agree a deal with Ralf Rangnick.
Scaroni gave a long interview to il Corriere della Sera (via MilanNews), during which, in addition to talking about the current emergency situation regarding the coronavirus, he also cleared up the Zvonimir Boban situation and rumours of Ralf Rangnick’s imminent arrival.
“It is not me who takes care of the sports part, but I retrace the history of Elliott a little. They found themselves owner in a situation where there was no liquidity to join the league, they made the club safe, hired a manager with an international profile like Gazidis, invested €250m in the market and launched the stadium project,” he said.
“The efforts made are not proportionate to the results, but Elliott have done everything. Gazidis is an absolute professional, I trust that over time its activity will be rewarded.
“Will Maldini stay? I hope so. Having said all this, as a company man, I say that when managers want to do an interview they must agree on it, one cannot get up and express himself freely, because it heightens the confusion. This is also true for me, who is the president: protecting the image of the club is necessary.”
There is also talk about the future of Stefano Pioli, who looks set to leave Milan at the end of the season.
“He did an excellent job, he managed to make Milan change face, I consider the Genoa game a transitory stumbling block. We need to be patient a little longer. In this context, amidst the problems of the country, those of football and those of Milan, the departure of [Zvonimir] Boban, although I like him, is not a priority in my mind.
“Like the coaches – Scaroni observed – the managers are immovable until everything is fine. I just say that as the efforts of the property have not been rewarded, so the commitment of the people who they did not have adequate results. It is a little difficult to throw the cross at Elliott for the technical choices “.
“Like the coaches, the managers are immovable until everything is fine. I just say that as the efforts of the club have not been rewarded, means that the commitment of the people who have been working didn’t have the adequate results. It’s a bit difficult to throw the cross at Elliott for the technical choices.
“I don’t know Rangnick, if there has been any contact, it is preliminary. I believe that one account is the contacts, which everyone is entitled to have.
“I assure you that I have not seen a contract hypothesis.”
Finally, Scaroni commented on the work of Gazidis, before discussing the doubt surrounding the futures of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gianluigi Donnarumma.
“The stadium project is part of this theme. From the point of view of the organisational effort, Milan are doing a great job. But it takes time. And if we don’t get back to Europe, it’s going to be difficult.
“I’m crazy in love with Ibrahimovic and Donnarumma. But if there are two exceptions, Gazidis will decide. Reducing the engagements is not a strategy, it’s a necessity.”
