Paulo Fonseca is the coach that AC Milan believe is the ideal man to take over from Stefano Pioli, according to Peppe Di Stefano, but there are some key issues that remain to be solved.
According to the likes of Sky, La Gazzetta dello Sport and other sources, Fonseca is now the frontrunner to become the new Milan boss at the end of the season and lead the club into a new post-Pioli era.
The saga has been going on for weeks. Julen Lopetegui was evaluated for months and seemed close to arriving before a fan protest, then it seems Sergio Conceicao was the chosen one, then Marcelo Gallardo’s name emerged in the last 48 hours and now things have gone full circle back to Fonseca.
Now, Di Stefano has given an update like on Sky regarding Milan’s pursuit of a new head coach and more specifically why they have decided to bet on Fonseca, with his comments relayed by Radio Rossonera.
“The other coaches compared to Paulo Fonseca today are the alternatives. Milan is betting on him, waiting and hoping. He waits and hopes that Monday’s match for Lille doesn’t go well,” he said.
“He has an expiring contract with his club and also for reasons of elegance he will show up for this match. They should offer him a contract renewal, but if you have such significant interest you refuse it. At least, that’s the impression.
“The real problem is linked to Marseille. He had an agreement in principle, a plan and a fairly significant salary that was offered to him from there. It seems that in recent days that direction of the negotiation has been inclined. This is why Milan continued and continues to wait.
“He is the ideal coach due to his technical characteristics, very similar to Pioli: 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. We defined him as calm, gentle and elegant in his time with Roma. He could integrate perfectly into the dynamics of the Milan project.
“There will be no news until early next week, when these meetings will take place. At that point, if Milan were to close with Fonseca, they would try to find an economic agreement with Pioli and his agent to try not to have two coaches on the payroll.”