Amorim gave Cardinale the list of those who must leave Milanello (and be substitutes on the transfer market). Rafa turnaround: he remains Rossoneri.
Leao stays, Nkunku leaves. And not alone. Ten days before the start of the season Amorim drew a line about summer work: in or out. And surprisingly the cards have changed compared to months in which the departure of the Portuguese with the long face (Leao) was taken for granted and a central role was predicted for the Frenchman purchased for millions a year ago and never really took off.
Leao stays. Partly because he didn’t receive the call that made him wrinkle his eyes and partly to try to get Milan back and the relationship, which had become frayed, with the Rossoneri fans. No Türkiye, for him. And no Saudi Arabia or exotic destinations which would have meant an abrupt stop to the career of a potential (never exploded) top player.
Amorim will have to heal all the wounds, but the truth is that he finds the best player in the squad, a man capable of scoring like a centre-forward in five years (67 goals) despite playing as a winger or, in the last season, as an adapted player in the middle of the penalty area. Plus dozens of assists, some headaches in the coverage phase and the problem of an attitude with which Fonseca, Conceicao and Allegri clashed in order.
The list of starters, however, surprisingly contains the name of Nkunku and it will be a problem to place him due to the investment of over 40 million a year ago with a not light salary. He was supposed to be one of the two attacking midfielders behind Gonçalo Ramos: rejected.
The strategy of leaking the list of unwanted players at the turn of August is an anomaly in the ways and times of modern football, the one in which the most difficult thing is not to buy but to sell. Milan have chosen this path and have two weeks to escort Nkunku, Tomori (contact expires in 2027), Fofana, Odogu, Estupinan (held back a month ago, it’s not clear why), Bondo. The situations of Loftus Cheek and Musah must be weighed. In short, it won’t be a simple August for those at Casa Milan who have to monetize and then put it back into circulation and give Amorim what he wants.
