AC Milan’s season has taken a decidedly negative turn, especially after elimination from the Champions League play-offs by Feyenoord. What it means is that there could be yet more big changes, for a second consecutive summer.
It is turning into a season to forget for Milan could increasingly accompany the conclusion of a cycle. With potential big sales, changes in the management and possible farewells in attack, another red-hot summer awaits. Our colleagues at SempreMilan.it provide the latest news.
A near-certain farewell
We start with a rather important update: Theo Hernandez’s departure now seems certain. The French full-back, who has been a pillar of the team in recent years, seems destined to leave Milan once the season ends.
Back in January, Milan had opened up to the idea of selling him even in the middle of a season in which there are multiple objectives to fight for, with Como having made a concrete move and offering an amount of around €50m.
The expiring contract will not represent an obstacle in one sense or another because the management have decided that they will move on from Theo after what will have been six seasons at the club.
At present, it seems as though the directors are inclined towards signing a replacement rather than opting for an internal situation like Davide Bartesaghi or Alex Jimenez, but it is too early to speak of names despite some recent links.
A new director
After Antonio D’Ottavio’s departure, we can confirm that Milan are looking for a new sporting director to join the current working group. Geoffrey Moncada is the technical director on paper but remains the chief scout in practice, and would prefer to return to a behind-the-scenes role.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has played a key role in recent transfer market operations, has shown some difficulties in his apprenticeship, especially in managing exits (the Emerson Royal case is emblematic) and in his excessive dependence on agent Jorge Mendes for purchases.
The club are expected to go for a figure similar to D’Ottavio, a more discreet profile capable of maintaining internal balance, at least unless there are further unwelcome shocks in the Coppa Italia and the league.
Fans will ask, what about the likes of Igli Tare, Francois Modesto and Andrea Berta, who represent more than valid solutions? The answer is that Milan seem inclined towards a ‘complementary’ name rather than someone to headline the show.
However, we must add that things could change depending on the level of ‘disaster’ that the end of the season brings, adding the reminder that Moncada’s contract does expire in June.
The Leao puzzle
Another farewell that could definitively mark the end of the Stefano Pioli era is that of Rafael Leao, the last senator – together with Theo and Mike Maignan – of the group that won the Scudetto.
Although the Portuguese’s situation is less defined than that of Theo Hernandez, the management seem ready to evaluate offers below the release clause of €175m which was fixed when he signed his renewal.
If offers around €70-80m were to arrive, Milan could decide to sell the striker, thus starting a rebuilding process with the proceeds. Like with Theo, it is too early to speak about who might come in to replace him, directly or in the aggregate.
The issue though is which clubs might be willing to spend that kind of money after another season plagued by inconsistencies. Saudi Arabia may be a solution, though the winger would have to give the green light.
Coaching question mark
It feels remiss not to mention the fate of Sergio Conceicao, which remains uncertain purely because of the nature of his contract alone. As a reminder, he signed a deal until June 2026 – therefore for 18 months – but there is a break clause valid for the end of this season.
We have already written at length before about the possibility that the Portuguese’s uncompromising and tough style of management might generate some issues. The results have been mixed too, with a Supercoppa Italiana win and two-points-per-game pace in Serie A tainted by the UCL exit.
The future of Conceicao is less clear than what is said in the media, though. The failure to place in the Champions League will certainly be a sword on the coach’s head, but it is also true that the management are aware that the coach did not have time to prepare the team in the summer.
Furthermore, the winter transfer window brought in many players who don’t know each other and this is also a factor in favour of the coach, who has often stressed the importance of having ‘normal’ training sessions to build cohesion and implement his ideas.
With five signings coming through the door and one of them being his compatriot Joao Felix, it also shows that the ownership and the directors back him too, by allowing such big changes midway through the campaign.
The most likely eventuality is that Milan in the summer will continue what they did in January: a real revolution in the squad with almost everyone available. Conceicao has alibis and protections (Jorge Mendes above all) that should not be underestimated.
Truth about the Pulisic-Conceicao case
Finally, the situation regarding an alleged argument between Christian Pulisic and coach Sergio Conceicao has dominated the headlines over the past 24 hours.
La Repubblica spoke of some friction at half-time in the Champions League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, and that he has been unhappy about being substituted off.
This particular story seems to be without any real credence, and the circulation of such news even prompted the club to publish a quote from Pulisic denying the story.
“I have never argued with the Coach and I have never asked to leave. I am very happy at Milan and I want to continue wearing this shirt. Reading these lies is unacceptable, but let’s all continue to remain united and fight together on the pitch, for the Club and for our fans,” he said.
In many ways, it marks a clear change in approach from Milan in terms of how much they are willing to tolerate regarding outside perceptions. Ibrahimovic has been more present and serious in the media, and the aim to stamp out ‘fake news’ shows a desire to take back some control amid the chaos.
With several situations still up in the air, Milan are preparing for a summer of changes. The end of one era always precedes the beginning of a new one, and it remains to be seen how Gerry Cardinale will orchestrate writing the next chapter.
Soooo more of the same to be expected. Great.
I would sell Theo but not Leao
Buy Tavares from Lazio to replace Theo, keep Felix
Lol, Tavares is worth like 50M at this point, maybe more.
“The club are expected to go for a figure similar to D’Ottavio, a more discreet profile capable of maintaining internal balance. The answer is that Milan seem inclined towards a ‘complementary’ name rather than someone to headline the show”
Translation……Zlatan wants a yes man, not someone who would outshine him.
Sure, that’s why they’re going to the trouble of hiring someone.
Who they? Ibrahimovic is an employee, Cardinale probably told them this looks like s**t since he is afraid of income loss from not being in CL so they were forced to do it. And then they will go with a guy that won’t tell them to f**k of when they have stupid suggestions. I think yabe is quite correct.
You do know that Cardinale wants the club to be successful, right? The more successful they are, the more money they’ll generate, the more he raises his profile. Use your brain before posting.
Theo won’t leave the club at the end of season. Wrong assumption. You also assumed he is out of the team, who will replace him etc. All wrong, maybe you should actually try thinking?
He will sign a new contract before June and he will play tomorrow and until the end of season in 1st team, if not injured.
Last year it was all about money ball. So did they all figure out they failed miserably. I’d be kissing Maldini and massaras feet to come back and take control
Leao is more likely to be sold and keep Theo. Simply because Leao work rate is only 50%. He often drifts out of the game and lazy to chase the ball. He is 1 trick and can only play on the left flank. He can fetch more money than Theo too.
Ya sell theo sell laeo sell puli sell felix and sell entire milan and always buy mediocre player as thier replacement..so that milan can go to 2013 to 2018 era ..for me atleast fonseca is good but fans made him to resign now we got better signing and still fans wants to sell our pillars ..
“The club are expected to go for a figure similar to D’Ottavio, a more discreet profile capable of maintaining internal balance”.
So another stooge. Pathetic.
Its already 3 years of constant downfall. The problem is, we are not prepared to do a rebuild. We do not have proper people in the sporting department, we do not have a proper atmosphere in the team and we have not committed to a couch that will stay for years. So we are not in a position to judge the players objectively, because maybe they are much better than what they show because of mismanagement and toxic atmosphere.
lol a new chapter with gerry every 6 months. what about furlani? isn’t it the ceo’s job to run the company? what an incompetent twat
Actually, Furlani is doing a great job as a CEO since Milan is doing great off the pitch. Financially, the club is in a great spot without selling players.
On the pitch, for that part, the coach and the players are responsible. Milan lost to a weaker team because of players’ individual mistakes.
Serie A relegation team like Como is interested in Theo, while Saudi Arabia team is interested in Leao. 😂.
Where are the big European clubs to show their interest?
You can’t win many games in the row without control of the ball in middlefield.
Moncada’s idea to go all in on the physicality and mobility of Milan’s midfield instead of the ability to hold the ball, then stretch out enemy lines + regulate the rhythm of our attacks cost us a lot of important points.
Theo. I don’t think anyone would say he puts his team first, ever, a damning quality. So much talent gone to waste.
Leao. A true head scratcher. Obvious talent but work rate and decision making in the box kill me while watching him. Too bad, he could be and should be one of those generational players, he just isn’t.
Conceicao. At this point the club has witnessed enough of his tactics and decision making to know he isn’t the answer. True, he hasn’t had much time but enough to know he shouldn’t be the guy.
There are only two strategies.
A. RedBird continues at Milan and we can expect more of the same.
B. RedBird offloads and Elliott sells on to somebody who actually knows how to run a club.
Everything else is just noise and distractions. Players… SD’s…. Coaches…. So on. Nothing will change under the same dysfunctional ownership no matter what pieces are under it. Because the fish rots from the head.
😂😂😂 they should hire jorge mendez to be their sporting director. he master work behind the scene well. it suit the complementary role.
#Get Elliot / Redbird out
All of this is pure fantasy and will just lead in more players WHO AIN’T GOOD ENOUGH TO COME AND ADD TO THE PROBLEMS.
The nail during the week was hit on the head by the Italian football podcast and there view on Italian football which goes hand in hand with AC milan and in particular there so called STAR PLAYERS 😉
THE LEAGUE NEEDS OWNERS TO STAND UP AND SPEND BIG ON THE SPORTING SIDE OF BUSINESS NO MORE EXCUSES OR THIS SEASON FOR ITALY AND MILAN WILL BECOME THE NORM WHICH I BELIEVE TRULY AND HONESTLY WHAT CERTAIN PEOPLE WANT.
NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS SHOULD ITALIAN FOOTBALL BE IN THE RELM OF HOLLAND PORTUGAL FRANCE BELGIUM BUT HERE WE ARE.
Zlatan could bring in 10 scapegoats to shield his incompetency, no worries. Doing all that will never make him a better management person anyway. Keep trying son.
Some poeple just want to destabilize….
No suggestion is even close to valid as theo replacement, none even close to Theo’s ceiling. Any of the nMes suggested… we a re going to be crying really fast missed theo. There are just not many in his position. We need to stand by him as a club, give him confidence to come back. I hope this happens, are we think objectively..and rehire Theo