AC Milan have taken a step forward by naming Igli Tare as their new sporting director, but the delay risks costing them a top coach.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) report this morning reports that Vincenzo Italiano – the favourite for Tare – is close to renewing with Bologna. Massimiliano Allegri seems Napoli bound, to replace Antonio Conte who is heading for Juventus.
Roberto De Zerbi will stay at Marseille, it was confirmed three nights ago, while Gian Piero Gasperini – the architect of the Atalanta miracle – is waiting to define his future with a meeting scheduled for the next few days.
So, who’s left for Milan? From within the club they preach calm, despite the impatience of the fan base. Until the first objectives have not officially faded, there is always the hope of a last gasp hijack.
The feeling, however, is that at this moment the fate of the Rossoneri depends on what happens elsewhere, without the possibility of getting a top target. That is why the management still have alternative ideas, with Thiago Motta among them.
Motta: Back in the running
Motta was already liked by Milan last year, when it was clear that Stefano Pioli’s time had come to an end. However, Juve had made their move on the Italian-Brazilian coach, then at Bologna, well in advance and there was no way to get involved.
So the Diavolo first veered towards Julen Lopetegui (who they then walked away from) and finally towards Paulo Fonseca. What happened from there is well known: Fonseca didn’t last until the turn of the year, while Motta was dismissed after just a few months as well.
The two disappointed parties – Milan and Motta – could thus try to relaunch themselves together. It wouldn’t be the first time. It shouldn’t be forgotten that these days, a year ago, Motta was a highly regarded name in Italy and Europe.
For those who would turn up their noses at a coach at Milan after being fired by Juve without winning, we should remember an illustrious precedent: Carlo Ancelotti. In fact, in 2001 Carletto replaced Fatih Terim, and he wrote history.
The outsiders
Thiago Motta, obviously, does not have Ancelotti’s Milan past. But neither do the alternatives, such as Roberto Mancini. Mancio is not one of the first choices at the moment, but he has won many things, although he has not coached a club since 2018.
After that year at Zenit in Russia, he has only been a national team coach. On that Azzurri he led Italy to the top of Europe in 2021 – an extraordinary result – only to fall dramatically in the World Cup qualifiers in Qatar. Things went worse for Mancini in Saudi Arabia, with his dismissal last October.
It is complicated to think about Maurizio Sarri, whose relationship with Tare has definitely cooled during their cohabitation at Lazio, or promising coaches, but still very young, like Francesco Farioli. As well as the option of a new bet to look for abroad, after Fonseca and Sergio Conceiçao.
Speaking of the latter, although the contract signed at the end of December includes a bilateral clause to terminate the relationship at the end of this season, it is obvious that Tare wants to at least meet him to define the details of the farewell.
I thought this guy would’ve been a good choice last season – before I saw him “coach” Juve…
I guess his sample size at Juve wasn’t big enough for Furlani. SO much for a “sure” thing.
Just keep conceicao to continue his work instead of Motta. Just a season miracle with Bologna
For Milan fans Italiano is the new Motta, finished 9th in the Serie A and 28th in the UCL, amazing, next Sacchi for sure.
He has an Italian passport unlike Fonseca so totally different obviously
Get Motta before he goes somewhere else too and there isnt even a plan B anymore..
I hope Motta will be the new manager, he was really good with Bologna. Even with Juventus that changed half of the team he was able to keep them in top 4 despite all issues.
One thing to consider with Motta is to add someone in his staff that is close to the players, negative comments from Juventus players all concentrated about lack of communication
Why are this news-site lying?
Milan had a bad turn of results around the winter-mercato.
So Milan had made contact with Motta, and was in the lead.
But, then Pioli got a streak of points, and the management, the clowns, droped the ball on Motta.
Why? Just because the current coach have some good games, does not say anything about the whole situation. Dont loose the ball.
And it was then Juve, a winner-mentality club, took their chance to puonce.
So, its a lie in the text. Not the first one either.
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