AC Milan are playing out a season finale in which they can win a second trophy, but paradoxically the Champions League has already vanished.
As MilanNews writes, unless there is some kind of May miracle, Milan will not play in the top European club competition next season after three years of consecutive qualifications with Stefano Pioli as the head coach.
Economic damage
It is a huge disappointment that the fans – after years of football oblivion – hoped not to experience again so soon. Above all there is economic damage that will inevitably impact the construction of the team for next year.
Milan, like all Italian clubs, do not yet have typical revenues (sponsors, merchandising, commercial) high enough to be able to be self-sustainable without the injections of the huge prize money that the Champions League brings.
The typical revenues can increase or decrease slightly, while the sporting revenues inevitably move the needle of the scale in one direction or the other. In short, without the €60m obtained from the UCL this season, the gap will have to be filled through other means.
First of all, there is the hope that the Rossoneri can at least get into the Europa League by winning the Coppa Italia. The earnings would certainly be lower, but still a good way to raise funds, given Lazio for example got €23m for reaching the quarter-final stage.
Player trading
Milan will therefore have to be very good at using player trading to get rid of those players no longer considered useful to the project, then going to fish for others who will be called upon to offer better performances on the pitch.
It will be necessary to get as much as possible from the various players on loan and currently out of the project: Adli, Pobega, Kalulu, Bennacer, Okafor, Colombo and Saelemaekers. If for the Belgian there is the chance to make a healthy sum, for the others buyers must be found.
Juventus seem to be oriented towards signing Kalulu permanently for €14m plus bonuses, while the other situations are not yet clear at the moment. It will be hard to cash in on players who are not deemed good enough for a €10m buy-out, like Pobega and Adli.
What is certain is that without the Champions League a clear line will be drawn compared to the recent past: it will be necessary to make as few mistakes as possible, buy players useful to the coach’s way of playing and those who feel a sense of belonging.
A year without Europe isn’t a bad thing considering what a sh!tshow this team has been all season. EL is extra games without the financial incentive and more opportunity for injuries.
CL income is vital for a club like Milan, but one year out is survivable if we’re smart and limit the damage to one year. We have two important starters who will have a year left on contract, Theo and Maignan. Them proper time to renew or sell was last summer, but oh well. If one needs to be sacrificed at a cut rate this summer and the other held onto for the final contract year, I think Mike makes the most sense to shift and Theo to hold on to. GK is the most replaceable position. We can still have a good transfer campaign using the proceeds from sales and use the tools we have currently to put together a CL qualifying side next season.
Out:
Maignan (25M)
Adli (8M)
Pobega (6M)
Chukwueze (15M)
Abraham (end of loan)
Kalulu (14M)
Bennacer (12M)
Okafor (10M)
Saelemaekers (20M)
Maybe Out:
Walker (end of loan)
Total: 110M
In:
LB backup for Theo (10M)
RB back/competition for Jimenez (20M)
Ricci (40M) or Frendrup (25M) or some other DM in the 25M-40M range
Zeroli (end of loan)
RW backup for Puli (15M)
LW backup for Leao (15M)
Maybe In:
Meret (free), or just give the gloves to Torriani
Walker (5M)
Coppola or Leoni, depending 2025-26 formation (25M)
Total: 85-115M
Net Spend: 5M
2025-26 Squad:
GK:
Torriani (Meret)
Sportiello
Vasquez
Def:
Theo
New LB
Thiaw
Pavlovic
Gabbia
Tomori
Coppola/Leoni/New CB (maybe, depending on formation)
Jimenez
Walker/New RB
Midfield:
Ricci/Frendrup/New DM
Fofana
Reijnders
Musah
Bondo
RLC
Zeroli
Wingers:
Leao
New LW
Pulisic
New RW
Strikers:
Gimenez
Jovic
Colombo
Total number of players: 25. 26 if an additional CB arrives. If we need to cut this back down to 25, or to 24 without the extra CB, we can sell one of RLC or Musah, or loan Zeroli out again. Most of the incomings will be backups, so max 3 new starters, but probably just 2, meaning stability as well.
What about Florenzi?