International gamble vs. ‘Italianisation’: Milan face choice between contrasting visions | OneFootball

AC Milan are approaching a critical period, one where decisions will be made that should in theory shape the direction of the club for multiple years to come.

In turn, Milan have found themselves at a crossroads. After the entrusting of the current management and the hiring of consecutive Portuguese managers that have not yielded the required results, there are calls for a return to leaving the sporting project to those who know Italian football.

On the other side, there is also the obvious temptation to follow on with a more ‘European’ approach that has at times seen Milan become pioneers, both in terms of recruitment from various leagues abroad led by the now-technical director Geoffrey Moncada.

The continental approach

The management situation at Milan is going through a period of turmoil, with various names in the mix for the definition of a stable and competitive structure.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic seems to have been the catalyst for this process, but it is the CEO Giorgio Furlani who has received the official promotion and who must make strategic decisions for the future of the club.

In recent days, the name of Markus Krösche has emerged among the candidates for a key role in the management of Milan. The current sporting director of Eintracht Frankfurt could represent the ideal choice for the philosophy of RedBird Capital, given his record with talent scouting and player trading.

Krösche has stood out in recent years for his work in scouting and sports management, both with RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt. During his time with the Red Bull club, he has completed moves that have paid off financially such as Dani Olmo, Christopher Nkunku and Angelino.

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There were some other strategic operations that allowed the club to earn capital gains even if they did not work at Leipzig, such as Ademola Lookman and Lazar Samardzic who have since gone on to star in Serie A.

His career turning point came with Eintracht Frankfurt, building a team capable of winning the Europa League thanks to players like Randal Kolo Muani. The sale of the Frenchman did not destabilise the club, while Omar Marmoush became the latest prized asset to depart for big money.

The German’s mercato philosophy and his clinical eye for upcoming gems could be a good fit for an investment fund like RedBird, an ownership that has earned a reputation for focusing on the accounts rather than the on-field results.

In this sense, Krösche ability to develop young players (also through the selection of the right head coaches) and maximise the club’s economic return might make him stand out as a candidate.

In addition to the Eintracht Frankfurt chief, Furlani is also looking with interest at Thiago Scuro. The Brazilian, currently director of AS Monaco, is another director capable of generating profits in the clubs he works for.

Scuro has gained significant experience in the world of international football. His career began in Brazil, where he worked with Red Bull Bragantino, a team that represents the South American part of the Red Bull Leipzig and Salzburg project.

In 2015 he became a permanent member of the Red Bull network, contributing to the growth of the Brazilian club with a management based on the acquisition and development of young talents. Do you see a theme developing?

In 2023, Scuro made the leap to Europe, taking over the sporting direction of Monaco from Paul Mitchell, a highly regarded executive. In just 18 months, he managed to rebuild the team with targeted signings and strategic work on the talents already present in the squad.

His work brought stability and ambition to the Monegasque club, which had gone through a turbulent period after the ambitious but problematic project of the late 2010s.

What makes Scuro a possible fit for RedBird is again his talent identification and willingness to work on sustainable projects. The director has shown that he knows how to manage the market carefully, focusing on players under 27 and maximising their technical and economic value.

So, both Krösche and Scuro are two profiles that are certainly valid, but that would arguably repeat the same mistakes made in the recent past by the current ownership.

Why? The fact is that since taking over at Milan, the American fund has remained faithful to the corporate philosophy of focusing on players who have not yet matured, or low-price cast-offs from other clubs. In essence, players with a valuation of less than €20m to run the risk of making a mistake from a sporting point of view, but not from a financial one.

They are choices that have brought Milan to where it is today, a team littered with reserve-level players and without a clear physiognomy, nor pillars on which to stand in the future. It is symptomatic of money-led rather than a results-led approach.

The Italian job

Meanwhile, rumours are becoming more and more insistent about a possible return of Massimiliano Allegri, this time supported by Fabio Paratici. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the two – after their shared successes at Juventus – could reunite at Milan to try create a new winning era.

The idea of ​​bringing Allegri back has gained traction in recent weeks given that the gambles on Fonseca and Conceicao did not pay off. With five Scudetti, four Supercoppa Italiana wins and two Coppa Italia trophies won at Juve, he has a winning pedigree that few out-of-work coaches boost.

Then, Paratici’s name is apparently the one in pole to become sporting director. Appreciated for his ability to build winning teams, the manager has gained further experience at Tottenham and now could be ready to return to Italy to support Giorgio Furlani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the club’s relaunch.

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With the goal of the second star, Milan would need a targeted strategy with regards to the mercato, and Paratici could be the right man for the job. The desire to return to the game with an ambitious club  and utilise his extensive network within Italy could push him to accept the challenge.

In the current panorama, Allegri represents one of the safest choices for the next manager. His knowledge of Serie A, experience in European competitions and a proven ability to manage high-level teams are some of his strengths.

After having rejected a rich offer from Saudi Arabia, the Livorno-born coach would like to coach in Italy and considers Milan an attractive challenge. Naturally there will be concerns about his style of play, yet the defensive and organisational aspect of Milan’s on-field tactical approach has been neglected for too long.

His return to the Diavolo could coincide with a targeted market, with three or four strategic reinforcements, including a left-back, an attacking midfielder and a striker. Names that, with Paratici at the helm of the market, could guarantee Milan the competitiveness needed to aim for the title.

The possible arrival of Allegri and Paratici at Milan would have a further motivation: revenge. Both left Juventus in strange circumstances, leaving under a bit of a storm cloud, and this would be the opportunity to show Italian football that they still know best.

In the present moment, with Milan looking for stability and a solid project to return to the top, the Allegri-Paratici duo could represent the safest combination. Going for Krösche or Scuro would cement the ownership’s desire to focus on a more European approach, hoping to strike the right formula.