Mission Accomplished [Newsletter]

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Aug 07, 2024

Heading to the United States for the annual pre-season tour, AC Milan’s main goal was to build some chemistry under Paulo Fonseca and, above all, to instil some confidence into the players. Considering that the Rossoneri won two games after 90 minutes, and one after penalties, there’s only one thing to say and that is mission accomplished.

With several key players missing, as well as the recent arrival of Fonseca, many of us were perhaps a tad worried - albeit also excited - ahead of the tour. While there are still many things to work on, such as integrating the key players at Milanello, it must be said that the pre-tour worries were quickly put to bed. There is now clearly an interesting project in place and it will be very interesting to follow this season.

The season opener, which will be played against Torino at San Siro, is now just ten days away and we won’t have to wait too long for Fonseca’s first ‘proper starting XI’ as a result. There is still one friendly left to play as Monza will come to San Siro for the Trofeo Berlusconi, but since the game is played four days before the opener (who thought of that?!), it might not be a super star-studded lineup.

Taking a trip down memory lane, Milan have won four of the last five season openers, with the defeat coming away to Udinese (1-0) during Marco Giampaolo’s reign in 2019/20. Since then, though, it has been happy days for the team with the following wins in chronological order: 2-0 against Bologna (H), 1-0 against Sampdoria (A), 4-2 against Udinese (H) and 2-0 against Bologna (A).

Alongside the developments on the pitch, fans have also been keeping a close eye on the mercato and so far, it hasn’t been the most lively one for the Rossoneri. Geoffrey Moncada was in Baltimore for the game against Barcelona and since he flew back with the team, he had ample opportunity to speak to both Fonseca and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on what to focus on.

Signings are the rave, as per usual, but we will likely see a lot of movement on the exit front as well in this final month of the mercato. Fode Ballo-Toure and Divock Origi are the most complicated exits and god knows what Milan will come up with there. Having said that, there always seems to be some solution emerging in the final days, and perhaps that can also be said on the incoming front…

News Bulletin

➤ Milan Futuro have been far more active than the first team when it comes to the mercato, with two new signings having been confirmed in the last week. Davide Mastrantonio arrived from Roma, while veteran striker Samuele Longo - formerly of Inter - followed him on Wednesday.

➤ In the other transfer links, Milan have apparently lined up a January move for Jacopo Sardo who has just left Lazio, while Alphadjo Cisse of Hellas Verona is a target and a bid for SC Freiburg teenager Bruno Ogbus was rejected. Finally, two experienced centre-backs have been linked too.

➤ Zlatan Ibrahimovic did a typically entertaining interview with The Athletic about his return to Milan and his current role, while Paulo Fonseca's comments reflecting on the USA tour were very positive and Lorenzo Torriani reacted to being the penalty shootout hero against Barcelona.

➤ After Morata and Pavlovic the incoming front has stalled once again, aside from Emerson Royal who should arrive this week for €15m plus bonuses. Youssouf Fofana is now a target for Manchester United, the Lazar Samardzic talks aren't moving forward, and nor are the Tammy Abraham discussions.

➤ Some more insight has come from Milan's training sessions in the United States, including how the players have reacted to the 'exhausting' work and the three things above all that the coach is working on.

➤ Our longer reads on the site in the past week include an in-depth player analysis of Strahinja Pavlovic, a further look into the indications from set pieces in the USA friendlies and a case-by-case breakdown of the various exit candidates.