GdS: Why Milan’s busy winter window was not ‘panic-generated’ from Cardinale and co. | OneFootball

AC Milan conducted what might just have been their busiest winter window in a long time, but it was far from panic-driven according to a report.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport write, some have already labelled it Milan’s ‘best winter market ever’ and, more than the money used to create it, the names signed stand out. The Rossoneri have managed to put together two factors that – especially in January – are very difficult to combine: quality at reasonable costs.

Strengthening without breaking the bank was key, something that remains a modus operandi overall for the club and has done since 2018. Basically, a jolt was needed to try to get back on its feet a season where the primary objective – qualification for the next Champions League – was and remains at risk.

It seems that fans have recognised the efforts made too, because during Milan’s win over Roma in the Coppa Italia during midweek, the fans stopped protesting against the ownership. Is it peace? Maybe, but the doubts of part of the fans remain anyway.

Now Milan have a squad that can see Santiago Gimenez send Joao Felix through on goal, or Kyle Walker commanding the defence like the veteran he is. In short, it is a statement of ambition, because carrying on with things as they were was not deemed an option.

The aggressive January market appears as further proof of RedBird’s desire to provide consistency in the ownership of the club also in terms of sporting objectives, because missing out on the Champions League is not an option.

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It was a mercato that was based not on gut instinct or ‘panic-generated signings’, but on reasoned investments, combining the needs of the squad and those of the budget, to avoid putting Milan’s financial stability at risk.

The ‘usual’ €20m signing this time has become about €30m (plus bonuses) for Gimenez, to which was added the €12m for Warren Bondo and the ‘small change’ for the loans of Walker, Joao Felix and Sottil.

Something uncommon, in short, just as in RedBird’s philosophy it was uncommon to fire a coach in the middle of the season. What is missing now? Three things, in the short and medium term: qualification for the Champions League, further reinforcements in the summer and the concrete start on a new stadium.