A temporary identity crisis [Newsletter]

It’s been a strange week for AC Milan, from the retirement of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the sacking of Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara. But here we are, and there’s nothing else to do but to look forward at this point. The situation might not be ideal, or perhaps that’s exactly what it is, but the summer will be interesting regardless.

The decision to sack Maldini and Massara came as a shock to the fans but also to some of the club employees. It seems that only Gerry Cardinale’s inner circle, including CEO Giorgio Furlani, knew about the decision and it’s clear that Milan are set to embark on a new path.

The foundation of the project, by the sounds of it, will remain the same but the process will certainly be different. Stefano Pioli will work closely with the ‘integrated working group’, as Milan calls it, when it comes to the mercato and that might actually work in favour of the Rossoneri.

In any case, one can’t help but think that the situation could have been handled better. Perhaps Cardinale felt that the only way to set this in motion was a swift departure for Maldini and Massara, but either way the pressure is now on the American’s shoulders and it remains to be seen if he can respond.

One man that probably is celebrating at the moment is chief scout Geoffrey Moncada. As we wrote already on Friday last week, a promotion was always going to be on the cards for the Frenchman in the event of Maldini’s departure. And that seems to be exactly what has happened.

Moncada is regarded as one of the best scouts in the world, but Maldini didn’t always take his advice. That will likely change now, with the ownership focusing on young players and low transfer fees. Free transfers will be key too, with Daichi Kamada still on the club’s radar and the likes of Marcus Thuram and Evan N’Dicka linked as well.

The departure of Maldini has inevitably left a bitter taste, but it will be interesting to see what RedBird will come up with. The reality is that Milan still lack the necessary revenue from their stadium and TV rights (Serie A) to compete with the biggest teams, and thus a different approach is needed.

News bulletin

➤ As mentioned, the Milan world has been rocked by the news that two club icons have left in Ibrahimovic and then Maldini. It feels like a ‘Big Bang’ moment, but what led up to it? Our latest long read looks back at the world of the directors and why things fell apart over a period of a year.

➤ We spoke exclusively to Milan fan and minority shareholder Riccardo Silva, who believes that the club ‘have a dream team of executives’ in Furlani and Moncada, adding that there should be total trust in what Cardinale is going.

➤ Some ideas have begun to emerge regarding how the squad can be strengthened. Stefano Pioli will now have more of a say in signings and sales, and he has reportedly identified positions to improve and some targets too.

➤ Furlani was the first to comment on the news in an official capacity, stating that the club have become more ambitious and not less despite some of the accusations put forward after the departure of Maldini. 

➤ Milan’s honorary vice president Franco Baresi has spoken out about the sacking of his former team-mate, stressing the need for investment, while president Paolo Scaroni outlined why Maldini might have felt 'uncomfortable' in the time leading up to his exit.

➤ Multiple sources are reporting that Cardinale is keen on offering Zlatan Ibrahimovic a role between the boardroom and the first team following his retirement.

➤ The reliable Matteo Moretto of Relevo claims the new management have begun work already, opening talks with the agent of both Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan N’Dicka and Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram. They were offered a couple of extra incentives too, to beat the competition.

➤ Milan’s Curva Sud have commented on the dismissal of Maldini, thanking him for his service and showing their appreciation for the work he did. However, they distances themselves from the idea of interfering in corporate decisions.

In case you missed it

Make sure to check out the latest podcast episode, as well as the latest bonus podcast (only available on Substack!). You can also read our latest bonus article, in which we rate all of the signings Maldini made at Milan.