Serginho has given an optimistic outlook regarding AC Milan’s upcoming season, touching on a couple of players in his old wing-back role.
It has already been a very interesting summer at Milan, with a lot of movement. After the mass sacking following the defeat to Cagliari to close out 2025-26, there has been an influx of new faces, starting with the new manager Ruben Amorim and his staff.
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The management was filled largely with internal promotions, while in terms of signings the trio of Goncalo Ramos, Mario Gila and Diego Moreira cost a combined €150m, with Gerry Cardinale seemingly taking the shackles off.
Moreira, Leao, Chukwueze and more
Serginho gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport in which he discussed Milan’s upcoming season, the window so far and also some of the individuals that could well play a key role.
What do you think of the Moreira signing?
“I’d say, above all, the management likes him, and that’s what matters. To make such an investment, I’m sure he’s been carefully considered in every move and every match. Spending so much means recognising his great talent.
“His quality is undeniable. He’s been deemed worthy of the AC Milan shirt. Now he has to become a player for the San Siro, a difficult stadium for everyone. I’m rooting for him.”
What are your thoughts on the Leao situation?
“The question should be another: what does Rafa intend to do with his future? Whatever he decides, he’ll have to be convinced of it. He remains one of the team’s strongest players, even if he has his limitations.
“I think his performance last season was hampered by the formation: he doesn’t have the qualities of a striker who plays with his back to goal, with an opposing defender constantly on his back.
“With Amorim and the new formation, he can certainly do well. I repeat: we need to understand what he wants to do. If he wants to put in the work again, it won’t take him long to win back the fans.”
Could Chukwueze be a surprise at wing-back?
“I was already following him in Spain, at Villarreal, and he was very strong, decisive. At Milan he was less so, at least until now. Now, however, he’s proving he deserves a second chance.
“Of course, in the new system he’ll have to change his way of playing: he’ll have more defensive duties, he’ll have to drop back more, with movements almost like a right-back.
“In preseason he attacked well but also struggled in defence, especially when faced with fast, left-footed opponents, or in quick changes of play where he needs to learn to be more ready.
“He has different characteristics, he tends to think only about the attacking phase: now he’ll be called upon to make a big change. It’ll be up to Amorim to understand whether he can complete himself or not.”
And Saelemaekers?
“For him, it’s about playing in a role he knows, with consolidated movements. For Chukwu, it would be a new experience, and like all new experiences, it takes time: so far, he’s only been able to try it out in one month of training and with a series of friendlies in between.”
What should Milan be aiming for this season?
“It will be essential for the team to adapt to the coach’s new mentality and for the coach himself to immerse himself in Italian culture. As a big fan, I hope we can find the right balance quickly; Italy offers little opportunity for error.
“In the meantime, I’ve seen an evolving Milan and a coach with clear ideas, but who, precisely, needs time and patience to translate them onto the pitch. Today, even more so, the times are confusing due to the changes underway, between transfers and new arrivals.
“Ramos is certainly a Milan player. I believe this is the beginning of a new era, further confirmed by the fact that the club has invested heavily. And the quality is there.
“I’m confident. Milan must always aim for the top, which means winning the Scudetto . On the contrary, qualifying for the Champions League must be the minimum goal. I say they can do it: I don’t see that much of a difference between last year’s Inter and this Milan.
“In Europe, yes, there are teams like PSG and Real Madrid that are certainly more competitive. But in Italy, I don’t see a team that’s so much stronger than the others, a candidate for an easy Scudetto. And Milan can take advantage of that.”
A tad ironic given Seginho was used as a LB in a back four (not often but he did play the odd game).
Serginho was the perfect utility player covering the entire left hand side: LB, LWB, Left of the diamond, LM, LW and even left sided forward.
Milan need more players like that. Musah and RLC are probably the most versatile of the current squad.
RLC? He can play as AMC. Any other player is better in MC than him, his positioning and defending is 0. Saelemakers is more versatile than him, Gila could probably play DMC better than RLC can do in any midfield role and so on.
Filippo Terracciano is more versatile than RLC LOL Way more, actually.
Moreira?
Positive assessment of the team and coach. I do hope, too, that with Amorim, Milan’s fortune will turn around for good.
Il Concorde is correct, Leao’s problem is Leao, he doesn’t seem to know what he wants from football. If he gave his all we should be talking about him in the same way Barcelona fans talking about Yamal. But at the end of the day it’s what goes on in his head, much like Cassano and Balotelli.