Stars unaligned and changes in management: Milan’s strategy to begin a new chapter

SempreMilan

·21 February 2025

Stars unaligned and changes in management: Milan’s strategy to begin a new chapter

AC Milan’s season has taken a decidedly negative turn, especially after elimination from the Champions League play-offs by Feyenoord. What it means is that there could be yet more big changes, for a second consecutive summer.

It is turning into a season to forget for Milan could increasingly accompany the conclusion of a cycle. With potential big sales, changes in the management and possible farewells in attack, another red-hot summer awaits. Our colleagues at SempreMilan.it provide the latest news.

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A near-certain farewell

We start with a rather important update: Theo Hernandez’s departure now seems certain. The French full-back, who has been a pillar of the team in recent years, seems destined to leave Milan once the season ends.

Back in January, Milan had opened up to the idea of selling him even in the middle of a season in which there are multiple objectives to fight for, with Como having made a concrete move and offering an amount of around €50m.

The expiring contract will not represent an obstacle in one sense or another because the management have decided that they will move on from Theo after what will have been six seasons at the club.

At present, it seems as though the directors are inclined towards signing a replacement rather than opting for an internal situation like Davide Bartesaghi or Alex Jimenez, but it is too early to speak of names despite some recent links.

A new director

After Antonio D’Ottavio’s departure, we can confirm that Milan are looking for a new sporting director to join the current working group. Geoffrey Moncada is the technical director on paper but remains the chief scout in practice, and would prefer to return to a behind-the-scenes role.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has played a key role in recent transfer market operations, has shown some difficulties in his apprenticeship, especially in managing exits (the Emerson Royal case is emblematic) and in his excessive dependence on agent Jorge Mendes for purchases.

The club are expected to go for a figure similar to D’Ottavio, a more discreet profile capable of maintaining internal balance, at least unless there are further unwelcome shocks in the Coppa Italia and the league.

Fans will ask, what about the likes of Igli Tare, Francois Modesto and Andrea Berta, who represent more than valid solutions? The answer is that Milan seem inclined towards a ‘complementary’ name rather than someone to headline the show.

However, we must add that things could change depending on the level of ‘disaster’ that the end of the season brings, adding the reminder that Moncada’s contract does expire in June.

The Leao puzzle

Another farewell that could definitively mark the end of the Stefano Pioli era is that of Rafael Leao, the last senator – together with Theo and Mike Maignan – of the group that won the Scudetto.

Although the Portuguese’s situation is less defined than that of Theo Hernandez, the management seem ready to evaluate offers below the release clause of €175m which was fixed when he signed his renewal.

If offers around €70-80m were to arrive, Milan could decide to sell the striker, thus starting a rebuilding process with the proceeds. Like with Theo, it is too early to speak about who might come in to replace him, directly or in the aggregate.

The issue though is which clubs might be willing to spend that kind of money after another season plagued by inconsistencies. Saudi Arabia may be a solution, though the winger would have to give the green light.

Coaching question mark

It feels remiss not to mention the fate of Sergio Conceicao, which remains uncertain purely because of the nature of his contract alone. As a reminder, he signed a deal until June 2026 – therefore for 18 months – but there is a break clause valid for the end of this season.

We have already written at length before about the possibility that the Portuguese’s uncompromising and tough style of management might generate some issues. The results have been mixed too, with a Supercoppa Italiana win and two-points-per-game pace in Serie A tainted by the UCL exit.

The future of Conceicao is less clear than what is said in the media, though. The failure to place in the Champions League will certainly be a sword on the coach’s head, but it is also true that the management are aware that the coach did not have time to prepare the team in the summer.

Furthermore, the winter transfer window brought in many players who don’t know each other and this is also a factor in favour of the coach, who has often stressed the importance of having ‘normal’ training sessions to build cohesion and implement his ideas.

With five signings coming through the door and one of them being his compatriot Joao Felix, it also shows that the ownership and the directors back him too, by allowing such big changes midway through the campaign.

The most likely eventuality is that Milan in the summer will continue what they did in January: a real revolution in the squad with almost everyone available. Conceicao has alibis and protections (Jorge Mendes above all) that should not be underestimated.

Image: AC Milan

Truth about the Pulisic-Conceicao case

Finally, the situation regarding an alleged argument between Christian Pulisic and coach Sergio Conceicao has dominated the headlines over the past 24 hours.

La Repubblica spoke of some friction at half-time in the Champions League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, and that he has been unhappy about being substituted off.

This particular story seems to be without any real credence, and the circulation of such news even prompted the club to publish a quote from Pulisic denying the story.

“I have never argued with the Coach and I have never asked to leave. I am very happy at Milan and I want to continue wearing this shirt. Reading these lies is unacceptable, but let’s all continue to remain united and fight together on the pitch, for the Club and for our fans,” he said.

In many ways, it marks a clear change in approach from Milan in terms of how much they are willing to tolerate regarding outside perceptions. Ibrahimovic has been more present and serious in the media, and the aim to stamp out ‘fake news’ shows a desire to take back some control amid the chaos.

With several situations still up in the air, Milan are preparing for a summer of changes. The end of one era always precedes the beginning of a new one, and it remains to be seen how Gerry Cardinale will orchestrate writing the next chapter.