The failure causes an earthquake in Casa Milan. The owner of RedBird relies on Calvelli and Ibrahimovic, via all the managers and Allegri. The model? Fabregas…
Everything in the master’s hands, Gerry Cardinale. And at his side a man (almost) alone: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The disastrous failure to qualify for the Champions League, which will keep Milan out of Europe for the second consecutive year, dictates the times and methods for a new refoundation. The fifth since the unfortunate 5 June 2023, the day of the dismissal of Paolo Maldini (and Ricky Massara), fired with an immediate dismissal notice because guilty of wanting to do everything on their own and of having made a mistake with the most expensive purchase of the previous session.
The owner of RedBird thus reacts to the sporting failure of a season that in March had the scent of a championship race, only to run aground in the following ten games until the humiliating defeat at San Siro against Cagliari. Everyone go. Company eliminated. Stop the delegations and project that Cardinale wants to design personally by relying on very few consultants of which Ibrahimovic is part for what concerns the sporting part. Disappointment is impossible to metabolize despite the attempt to think that it could be an opportunity to make a clean sweep and get to work personally.
Ibrahimovic and the failure of his treatment in summer 2024
He, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, already at the forefront in the post-Maldini era from the comfortable and never fully clarified position of “senior advisor” of the property: a sort of partner, it is not known with what level of participation, sole contact person for the head of the fund so much so that he is defined as “my proxy in Milan” and by himself “the boss”. Those were the roaring months of Milan, which had closed on Antonio Conte to rely on Paulo Fonseca after having chosen and repudiated Lopetegui by popular acclaim and before arriving at Sergio Conçeicao, finishing eighth in the standings.
Everyone away and trust in Zlatan. The model? A proactive coach like Fabregas who replaced Milan in the Champions League. Therefore, not a technician with a winning CV but a talented developer. Not Antonio Conte (for the second time in the space of three years), but open to a casting not necessarily focused on Italy. A huge risk, already taken and paid dearly after the farewell to Stefano Pioli. It is not certain that the Como model can be replicated at Milanello nor that it is suitable for the ambitions and history of a club that has been a leader in Italy, Europe and the world.
Cardinale turns Milan around: all managers away
Go Giorgio Furlania CEO who was resented by the public and who gathered tens of thousands of signatures to call for his ouster: guilty of knowing how to keep accounts in order but not of building teamwork. Go Igli Taresports director guilty of having wastedly invested almost eighty million euros to get Nkunku and Jashari. Saved Paolo Scaroni who has the San Siro dossier in hand. No room for the return of Adriano Galliani. And so, of course, Max Allegri who was a proud opponent of Ibrahimovic (and vice versa) in the long winter that burned Milan’s money and hopes. The head of the scouting area is gone Geoffrey Moncada. Deep reflections (and engravings) also on the squad that has demonstrated that it does not have the quality and character to achieve qualification for the Champions League. The symbol? Rafa Leaogreetings also to get rid of salary and tactical misunderstanding.
It won’t be an easy summer for the Rossoneri people who in recent weeks have contested everything and everyone, including Zlatan who until a couple of years ago was praised as the savior of the country and guarantor. Furthermore, the Swede already has a full agenda and will have to fit in the duties of the new role between one commitment and another: he is leaving for the United States where he will be a World Cup commentator for Fox Sports until mid-July and on August 1st he goes to Dublin for… boxing matters. This also increases the risk of a new failure that neither Cardinale nor Milan can afford.
The official press release from RedBird
Here is the official press release that arrived at the end of the day: “After the disappointment of last season, the mandate defined by the owners for the Club was clear: to return to the Champions League and build the foundations to win and remain consistently at the top of Serie A. For most of the season we remained in the top two positions of the championship, with the concrete possibility of competing for the Scudetto. The end of the season, however, was well below the level shown up to that point and last night’s disappointing defeat transformed this season into an unequivocal failure.
It is now time for change and a profound reorganization of the Club’s sporting area. With immediate effect, the career at AC Milan of CEO Giorgio Furlani, Sports Director Igli Tare, Head Coach Massimiliano Allegri and Technical Director Geoffrey Moncada comes to an end. Our thanks go to each of them for the work done and dedication demonstrated during their stay in the Club.
Further announcements relating to the new appointments will be communicated as soon as they are defined, with the aim of having a structure ready for the next season”.
