Gerry Cardinale’s words last night at the Financial Times Business Forum Summit can only be interpreted as a strong suggestion that AC Milan will undergo significant changes this summer.
According to Calciomercato.com, the fact that he focused on the present league position and the injury situation appears to place the burden more squarely on the shoulders of head coach Stefano Pioli rather than distributing it about.
Despite being out of the Scudetto race for some time, Milan remains in contention to win the Europa League and, more importantly, qualification for the next Champions League, albeit it does not appear to be enough for Pioli.
Obtaining a top four ranking is critical for economic and sports strategies, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s decision-making power will play a big role in this. In Cardinale’s review of the current season, Pioli will be the primary suspect.
It is difficult for him not to be concerned, given that Milan departed the Champions League group stage, are 16 points behind Inter, have been eliminated from the Coppa Italia, and have missed out on the 2025 Club World Cup.
Pioli is linked to Milan for another year of contract and earns €4 million net per season, but the chances of a season-ending departure have never been higher.
Who will succeed him? According to the source, Antonio Conte’s ‘forbidden dream’, particularly among fans, is to return to the bench and take on an ambitious project following his sabbatical to replenish his batteries.
Conte is regarded as the name that would bring everyone together due of his drive, winning mindset, and the fact that it would send a tangible signal to the outside world that Cardinale’s remarks about the obsession with victory are more than just words.
At the same time, there have been no direct interactions between the Rossoneri’s management and the former Inter coach, maybe due to his high pay and investment demands.
Instead, contacts have been made with many profiles, including Julen Lopetegui, who is regarded for his capacity to nurture young players and for his work with Sevilla, where he won the Europa League.
However, there is a profile that currently fits perfectly with Cardinale’s idea of Milan, a squad that gradually grows along with its heroes, following a logic of consolidation while balancing the sustainability of the accounts.
According to Calciomercato.com, ‘all the clues lead to Thiago Motta’ of Bologna, who is helping the squad compete for a Champions League position. Milan has made persistent and frequent inquiry in recent months, as have Riccardo Calafiori, Lewis Ferguson, and Joshua Zirkzee.
Cardinale and Ibrahimovic embrace the concept of ‘evolution,’ and they believe Motta is a coach ready to compete in a more competitive environment and with a larger team.
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