Italian football journalist Gabriele Marcotti recently featured on the Milan Weekly Podcast (Episode 55), where he covered an array of topics relating to the Rossoneri. He provides his insights on Elliot's take over of the club, the expected arrival of the 'New Kaka', and the Azzurri all before providing his predictions for this weekend's famed Derby della Madonnina. 

On Elliot... 
With Elliott, the big fear when they took over, was that they were going to go and just say screw this let's get our money now, they were going to asset strip and sell whatever they could so they could get their loan repaid and then just move away.

They haven't done that, in fact they've taken a view of turning the club around in the medium term. They wouldn't have gone to great lengths in bringing Ivan Gazidis if that were the case. 

The difficult thing now is obviously, Milan are in limbo with financial fair play because of what happened before. They have to go through that whole procedure, take a hit, and from there Elliott will have to pick up the pieces and try to come up with a voluntary agreement that would enable them to keep some level of spending while also showing how they grow revenue. That is a big reason why I think Gazidis is there.

Milan is going to have to be smart how they spend the money while at the same time being very clever in how they grow the revenue not just in Serie A but around the world and that's going to be the challenge.

Elliott doesn't have experience in sports, that is why they brought in Ivan Gazidis who does. Looking past Gazidis viewed from the outside, you have Gazidis who obviously is a pretty smart competent guy with tons of experience in football, and then they pursuaded Maldini to come back. First Berlusconi, then Fassone, all these people saying Paolo will you come back and he always said no.  I think the fact he put his faith in this project I think is massive. Paolo Maldini doesn't need to work, if he came back it is because he believed in the project, that is very encouraging if you are a Milan fan. Also Leonardo is another sharp guy who brings credibility to the project. 

I think having gone down this road, I don't think Elliott are going to pull the plug, they are going to see to what value they can grow the club. From their perspective, given the money they put in and the amount they lost when Li defaulted, if they can sell the club for more than 600 or 700 million euros they will have made a handsom profit. They think, and they're probably not wrong, they can raise the value of the club to more than 1 billion. I think that is going to be their goal and their time horizon is 3-5 years.

One potential arrival of Lucas Paqueta...
I only saw him on TV when he made his debut with Brazil and some video clips. He plays at a huge club like Flamengo which bodes well in terms of coping with the pressure.  Over the years we have seen a lot of guys come from Brazil with huge price tags and some of them live up to the billing and others do not. 

I think you have to put your faith in Leonardo on this one. Leonardo is well connected and is from Rio, he has been in Europe 20-25 years as a player, an executive, as a manager, he knows which Brazilian players can transition to Europe and which ones can not.

There was a big deal made about beating out PSG and the Qatari money, however PSG are in FFP hell right now so hard to say how this limited their ability to push the price up. Also from Paqueta's point of view, I look around at PSG's attacking players and I look at Milan's attacking players and I ask myself where am I more likely to get playing time and undoubtedly it's at Milan not at PSG. It is smart business from Leonardo but hard to say if the price is right or the player is any good until I see more of him.

What about the Azzurri... 
There really is a legitimate generation of young talent coming through, not all of them are going to be superstars but I think with the national team you don't necessarily need 20 superstars. You need 4-5 superstars or fuori classe and you need functional players around them and a good coach. That generally has been the formula for success for any national team. We won a world cup with Perrotta, Zaccardo, Iaquinta. 

I feel pretty good about the future, I think Mancini is a really competent coach tactically. What I don't like about Mancini is he has a temper, he gets hissy fits - he gets to wound up. We saw it at Inter and Manchester City. I don't think you can do that when you're the national team manager. Now he's older and a bit more mature. I didn't like how he treated the first round of UEFA nations league games like a friendly, he made 9 changes from one game to the next. 

I don't think we'll win our nations league group. I hope to see positive forward progress. I loved that first hour in the friendly against Ukraine with that midfield of Barella, Jorginho and Verratti. For the first time as far back as I can remember, our entire midfield is filled with people who can actually play and hit a pass and do something special and have high quality on the ball. The future is certainly brighter than the last couple of years have been.

Finally, Derby predictions... 
Milan play better football simply put and they play even better football when Higuain is there. He takes them to another level in terms of finishing and what they can do, especially in big games. 

I am not sold on Spalletti but I think they have a better starting XI top to bottom but feels too much like individuals. 

I think it's going to be an open game, there's going to be goals and I predict 2-2. 

​On Monday, Alessio Romagnoli committed his future to Milan, and while it would normally be a cause for celebration, some fans have been hesitant to celebrate it. Rossella Marrai-Ricco looks at why it’s unlikely that he will end up like Thiago Silva.
 
Last year, AC Milan and its fans enjoyed an entertaining summer. It was filled with the introduction of fresh new faces at Milanello follow a cool €250 million spent in transfers. The new owners, it seemed, were shooting for the stars. With big aspirations, comes the need for big pockets. 
 
Since day one, though, Younghong Li and his consortium have been the constant topic of speculation, with the media often trying to find a way to put out the Diavolo’s flame. And it hasn’t stopped…
 
Just over a year since their infamous takeover, very little has changed. In fact, the rumours have grown increasingly worse after Milan’s bid to end the Financial Fair Play investigation was rejected by UEFA, leaving many fans and Italian football worried about their potential fate. 
 
Such headlines have followed: “AC Milan face possible eviction from Europa League.” “Mass exodus awaits Milan in order to balance the books.”
 
Such headlines are concerning, of course… Milan do very well stand a chance of being evicted from the Europa League should they not find a way to pay €30m to UEFA by the end of June. While few hardly forget the reason why Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were both sold to PSG back in 2012. To this day, their transfers still leave a bitter taste in any Milanista’s mouth. 
 
It’s because of the Brazilian and the Swede’s sudden farewell from Milanello that, perhaps, Alessio Romagnoli’s contract extension has left a certain percentage of the club’s supporters adopting a rather hesitant approach to celebrating.  
 
Since his arrival to San Siro outfit back in 2015, the 23-year-old has shown glimpses of the incredible potential Thiago Silva had displayed when he first joined the Rossoneri at the age of 24. Having come in as a replacement to the outgoing Alessandro Nesta, Silva was largely considered to be the captain in waiting.
 
So much so, that in July 2012, he penned in contract extension until 2017 with the club. An official statement read: "Thiago Silva himself embodies the class and style of Milan, the charisma of a club that loves the game but also the result and behaviour. And so his stay with the Rossoneri, decided by president Berlusconi, preserves the Milan identity.” Twelve days later, he signed for PSG. 
 
Similarly, to Thiago Silva, Romagnoli had also been tipped to become the heir to the great Nesta. Beyond their shared position on the field, there have been several interesting parallels between them. Like his counterpart, the Milan defender also grew up a Lazio fan. They both stand at equal heights of 6 ft 2, read the game well, are capable of making elegant tackles and are very confident on the ball. It’s because of this that the youngster chose to sport the former Lazio skipper’s iconic No.13 upon his arrival to Milan – something that pulled on the heartstrings of the supporters. 
 
Despite the sluggish start to the Serie A season, where he had to overcome injury and adjust to his new defensive partner Leonardo Bonucci, Romagnoli proved why he’s one of the most promising centre-backs in Europe. With a pass accuracy of 91.4% last term and averaging 5.3 clearances per game – this, according to Whoscored.com – the former Roma man has seen himself become one of the most talked about transfer targets in Europe. 
 
Chelsea, Juventus and Liverpool have all been linked with a possible swoop for his signature. And with the club’s Europa League status in a precarious position, the rumours started to come thick and fast. A bidding war was ready to be made. But before anyone could start, in true Marco Fassone and Massiliano Mirabelli fashion, they “passiamo alle cose formali” (We move onto formal matters), and surprised everyone with a contract renewal. 
 

In an unexpected Facebook Live video broadcast, Milan sent fans into frenzy with a “special” announcement. The teaser? Live footage of someone walking through the Mondo Milan museum at Casa Milan, before following Fassone, Mirabelli and Romagnoli from behind to the trophy room where the big announcement was made. 
 
The deal? A new and improved contract that would tie him down to the club until 2022. 
 
“I hope to continue here for many years to win a lot and to bring AC Milan where they deserve,” he told Milan TV, before taking to his own Instagram to declare his intention with the jersey.
 
"Another important step in my career, thank you AC Milan for the trust. I will honour this agreement and this jersey every day,” he wrote. 
 
It was a quick and genius way to put to rest some of the media reports, but it wasn’t anything they hadn’t done before. In fact, it was the second time in two years that Milan had acted swiftly upon protecting their assets in Romagnoli. 
 
In August 2016, Milan took to social media to declare that they would not sell the former Sampdoria defender, despite receiving a “significant” bid for his services, and Monday’s declaration of extending his contract is once again proof in the belief and the vision they have in him.

​Naturally, Romagnoli’s extension left many fans with mixed emotions. Seeing him commit to the club when their European status is that of a precarious one fills the room with buoyant optimism, but the fact that Thiago Silva’s contract extension was dealt with in a similar light has given the fans flashbacks of that disappointing day. 
 
Still, there is a different feeling about Alessio’s deal in comparison to that of Silva’s. Regardless of what happens with the club owners, Milan’s new management has to be commended for instilling a transparent and communicative front when it came to important issues. Respect was given to the fans, and in turn, they garnered admiration from the supporters.
 
If Milan absolutely needed to sell players to ease the financial situation, things would have been communicated by now. In fact, the only thing Milan management has done is show they are determined to bring the club back to the top again and by doing so, locking down Romagnoli’s services would be one of the requirements. They’ve now done that. In fact, their ability to act quick on it rather than wait until the transfer window starts heating up, shows they are also trying to put the fans at ease too. 
​
The defender’s extension is certainly a step in the right direction for the club and moves them one step closer in achieving their vision.  

Jersey numbers can mean more to a player than simple digits, which originally used to reflect one’s position on the field. Nowadays, most numbers hold a meaning or two for the person donning it on his back, and at Milan, it is no different. Today, Rossella Marrai-Ricco breaks down the beautiful meanings behind some of the Rossoneri jersey numbers.
 
Times are changing at Milanello, and with it, comes a change of jersey numbers. No longer, do the numbers one through to 11 outline a coach’s preferred starting XI. Instead, a player now has the freedom to select his preferred figures, and a lot of the time; they carry a completely different meaning from a playing position.
 
Nowadays, the digits at the back often carry a symbolism of some sort, and for this year’s squad, Vincenzo Montella has a number of sentimental players at his disposal.
 
Andrea Conti – 12
Traditionally reserved for the back-up choice goalkeeper, Andrea Conti hasn’t officially revealed why he chose the number 12 jersey but there has been one notable suggestion – AC Milan legend Marco Van Basten. The Dutchman was known for his suave moves on the field, and after donning the No.12 during the 1988 Euro final against the USSR, where he scored a goal, it seems that the Rossonero legend may hold a special place in Conti’s heart. Conti tries to be equally fluid when it comes to pushing forward with the ball, and perhaps, Van Basten has inspired him somewhat.
 
Alessio Romagnoli – 13
Since Thiago Silva’s departure for PSG back in 2012, Milan have struggled to have a solid and tactically astute centre-back at their disposal. Alessio Romagnoli’s arrival to Milan, however, has changed that, and whilst still young, he has often displayed characteristics of a traditional Italian defender. Upon his arrival to the club, Romagnoli abandoned the No.46 in order to inherit the famous jersey previously worn by Alessandro Nesta. With a hunger to become as successful as his fellow Laziale, Romagnoli opted to carry the weight of the No.13, and so far he is yet to let down Nesta’s legacy.
 
Leonardo Bonucci – 19
Highly attached to the number 19, Bonucci even has his own hashtag, #LB19, to give him a distinct trademark. Upon arriving at Casa Milan, the jersey had already been given to Franck Kessie, who also holds an attachment to the figure. Bonucci’s affinity to the integers stems from a number of factors, with him namely having gone through good times and bad times with it on his back. He believes that those times and the number have helped him develop into the man and player he is today. In addition, the number one signifies the sun – the universe’s most powerful source – while the number nine is a tribute to his wife, Martina's, birthday.
 
Lucas Biglia – 21
For 10 years this jersey was one of the most admired Rossoneri kits in the country, with the name Andrea Pirlo printed across the back. It is because of the way “Trilly” commanded the midfield, created play, and orchestrated movement that Lucas Biglia chose to don the same jersey. Regardless of the way things ended between Adriano Galliani, Milan and Pirlo, the Argentine’s comments on Pirlo certainly helped him win over admirers.
 
Patrick Cutrone – 63
Even in this day and age, it’s rare to see jerseys surpass the number 35, but in Milan’s case there are few players who have gone for some bold figures. Patrick Cutrone, who donned the No.9 for the Primavera side, opted to sport the No.63 on his back due to his father – who was also a football player. Furthermore, the addition of the two digits accumulates to his previous jersey number.
 
Ricardo Rodriguez – 68
Throughout his career, the Swiss defender has grown very attached to the number 3 – a figure reflective of his position on the field. However, due to that specific jersey being reserved for the Maldini family, Rodriguez’s second option was 13 – a jersey already owned by Romagnoli. This then left the full-back in a bit of peculiar position, but he didn’t need much time to make his decision – the number 68. His choice was made to honour his late mother, who was born in 1968. Few things get more sentimental than that!
 
Franck Kessie – 79
Unselfishly, Kessie opted to handover the No.19 to Bonucci, but he could be forgiven for his powerful attachment to the number. Not only did the number 19 reflect the day of his birth; but also, it was the day he arrived in Italy, and the day his father sadly passed away. Like Bonucci, the number had seen him through good times and bad, and he opted to release that figure after a conversation with his mother. The Ivoirian chose to have the No.79 on his back, because, from far, it looks like the No.19 on the field. 
 
Elsewhere on the field, the Donnarumma brothers can be found sporting 90 (Antonio) and 99 (Gianluigi) on their backs, and that is because they chose to sport the year of their births on their back. Coincidentally, Manuel Locatelli scored his first ever Serie A goal for Milan in the 73rd minute – the number he wears on his back.
 
The sentimentality behind these jerseys is just one of the many reasons why we call it: “The Beautiful Game.”

When Milan won the 2007 UEFA Champions League in Athens, they were one of the oldest teams to swing aloft the famous “Big-Eared” trophy, recording an average age of 31. Ten years on, though, and the Rossoneri have finally embraced the winds of change. Featuring as the youngest team in Serie A last term, Vincenzo Montella not only put his trust in youth, but several academy products, and this year he has unleashed yet another exciting prodigy in the shape of Patrick Cutrone – a striker who lives to put the ball into the back of the net. Rossella Marrai-Ricco takes a look at his pre-season form…
 
It should be Andre Silva creating the headlines; instead, it’s a Primavera graduate who is yet to play 90 minutes of a top-flight fixture in Europe. Don’t know him? Well, you soon will!
 
The Portuguese’s arrival to Milanello was met with much enthusiasm. Courted by most of Europe’s top clubs, the 21-year-old was swooped up by Marco Fassone and Massmiliano Mirabelli as the Rossoneri’s fourth arrival of the summer. It was an unexpected move that surprised all, but one, which left the club’s fans, overjoyed.
 
Silva had scored 22 goals in 44 appearances across all competitions for Porto – the combined total Carlos Bacca and Gianluca Lapadula notched up for the Rossoneri last term – while he has also bagged eight goals for his country in just 13 outings.
 
In the last two years, Andre Silva has proven himself a dynamic and pacey striker with a natural eye for goal, leaving little room to question why he has been dubbed Cristiano Ronaldo’s heir to the Selecção. Yet, his arrival has been somewhat overshadowed by an equally incredible and younger prospect, Cutrone...
 
With the Portuguese star having reported to pre-season camp later than most due to his country’s participation in the FIFA Confederations Cup, and with Bacca’s future still up in the air, Cutrone saw an opportunity to impress Vincenzo Montella, and he grabbed it with both hands.
 
Selected in Milan’s starting XI in the Diavoli’s first pre-season friendly ahead of the 2017/18 Serie A campaign, Cutrone wasted no time in putting his name on the scoresheet. With only 98 seconds on the clock, Cutrone latched onto a defence-splitting through-ball to casually slice the ball into the back of the net from eight yards out.
 
His goal was the start of a four-goal onslaught by Montella’s men, but what was crucial to note is how he played a major role in creating the goalscoring opportunity. As the Rossoneri pushed forward, the teenager combined well with Andrea Bertolacci and Franck Kessie to pull off fluid and swift moving triangular play, before then poking the ball over the line. 
 
It was his first goal of the “campaign”, and he hasn’t stopped there. Against Dortmund, Cutrone showed equal hunger in front of goal, and he came agonizingly close to pulling one back for Milan…
 
Despite missing the one-on-one opportunity inside the box, Cutrone put out promising displays in China that caught the attention of onlookers. He showed relentless desire to win and chase down balls, drifted deeper into the midfield to carry the ball further up the park, combined well with Kessie once again, and showed aerial strength in challenges.
 
The latter element of his game proved crucial when he netted in the opening goal against Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup, before then going to add a second strike to his name with toe-poking effort from a cross off the left flank. Once again, the teen was the one who had initiated the play on his goal, by passing the ball from the edge of the D to M’baye Niang, who then played it wide to Giacomo Bonaventura. The midfielder chased down the ball before crossing it into the box for Cutrone to poke home, making it three goals in three friendly matches for Milan.
 
Speaking after the game, he said: “It's a day I'll never forget, on the first goal I didn't even think I'd scored, while the second was a great team move.”
 
While it may be early days still, Cutrone has displayed classic goal poaching qualities worthy of Pippo Inzaghi’s approval, while he has proven himself equally dynamic, packed with pace, physically strong, hungry for goals, and can hold the ball up well. All necessary qualities to become a top striker, but he is no stranger to scoring…
 
Under the guidance of Stefano Nava, the centre-forward discovered some of his best form, and in 22 appearances with the Primavera side last term, he found the back of the net on 19 occasions, bagging three assists in the process. Those figures followed a campaign with the Primavera B side, where he scored 22 goals in 31 outings to make the most prolific goal-scorer to come out Rossoneri academy.
 
If that isn’t an impressive enough return, Cutrone has also bagged a remarkable 33 goals for the six various youth national teams for Italy, turning out for his country a total of 57 times.
 
“We all played a great game [against Bayern Munich], from the first minute to the last. Compared to Borussia [Dortmund] something changed,” he added after the 4-0 win over the Bavarians. “It's a win which increases our confidence ahead of Craiova, and now we have to think only about that game because it's crucial for our season.”
 
So promising Cutrone’s form has been, he is likely to start for the San Siro outfit against the Romanian club in the first leg of the Europa League clash later this week, and it has even been reported that Bacca is likely to make way in order for him to remain at Milanello.
 
Donning the number 63 on his back to honour his father, Cutrone is so passionate about the game that he often requires alone time to reflect on the odd occasion things don’t go his way in front of goal. And while he may have a mature head on his shoulders, the striker is still young, has to learn to compete against other quality strikers at Milan, and has plenty to prove – a challenge he won’t shy away from. 

​It was just the other day when mayhem ensued outside of Milan’s headquarters of Casa Milan. A couple of hundred fans patiently stood waiting for the arrival of the most unexpected deal of the transfer window to be finalised… Yes, that would be Leonardo Bonucci! The expected heir to Gianluigi Buffon’s armband was crossing the great divide, exchanging his white stripes for red, and, what rubbed salt into the deep wounds was the promise that he would be named club captain. An unusual precedent for a player who had yet to step foot at Milanello, but one, which Rossella Marrai-Ricco feels, is crucial.
 
Echoes of a remixed version of “Sarà Perché Ti Amo” reverberated across the piazza, and when the Audi transporting Bonucci arrived at Also Rossi, fans let out the biggest screams of joy that had not been heard since 2007’s success in the UEFA Champions League final.
 
Not since the return of Kaka in 2013 had a player been that warmly welcomed by the Milanisti faithful, and the wide-eyed smile spread across the 30-year-old’s face said it all… Bonucci’s arrival immediately made him part of something much bigger than just a simple switch between rivals.
 
It was a new beginning for him, but in the same token, it was the start of a new and exciting chapter in the Rossoneri history books. And he was likely to be the author of it…
 
Even before the towering defender had been rumoured with a Juventus exit, Milan had already undergone a transfer market campaign worthy of Adriano Galliani in his prime, courtesy of the unrelenting work ethic from Massimiliano Mirabelli and Marco Fassone.
 
A total of eight players had already been snapped up, and it included some of Europe’s most impressive defenders last season, along with Cristiano Ronaldo’s heir, Andre Silva, the continent’s leading set-piece taker Hakan Calhanoglu, and Africa’s exciting prodigy Franck Kessie.
 
Their arrivals to Milanello was the start of a change in mentality amongst the fans, but when Bonucci greeted the mass of people at Casa Milan’s doors, and uttered the words: “Ci vediamo dopo” (We will see later), did the full crux of the paradigm shift take place.
 
The jubilant mood felt across the fashion capital had little to do with snatching away one of the best defenders in the world from their rivals. Instead, Bonucci’s signing provides Milan with a unique psychological boost that hasn’t been present since Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s transfer seven years ago.
 
It has created an element of belief that Milan can now compete with Europe’s heavyweights for the signature’s of in-demand players, and Fassone’s pursuit of a big-name striker is further proof of that. Moreover, the psychological impact Bonucci will bring to the changing room will ultimately spark a different mentality amongst his new colleagues…
 
For years Milan have awarded the armband to the player with the most Rossoneri appearances to his name, seeing it often switch between Ignazio Abate and Riccardo Montolivo depending on availability.
 
Sadly, the veteran midfielder hasn’t been able to fill the boots of Paolo Maldini and Massimo Ambrosini, and his quiet persona saw him become the equivalent of a soft voice in the boisterous Curva Sud. It is because of this, that Bonucci is likely to inherit the armband famously sported by Maldini and Franco Baresi, and there is little doubt that he will live up to their daunting legacy.
 
Rarely one to ever feel unnerved by responsibility, the Italian international spent the past seven years at Vinovo developing into one of the world’s most progressive defenders, and being molded into one of the game’s toughest hard-men.
Under the guidance of Antonio Conte and the incredible partnership alongside Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini and Gianluigi Buffon, the Viterbo-born player learned the values of leadership, and, above all, the hunger to succeed.
 
During his time with The Old Lady, Bonucci went on to swing aloft an impressive 15 trophies, and despite winning all there is to attain in Italy, he has never once showed any sign of complacency. For him, it’s about “fighting with more hunger than ever,” as he declared in his latest Instagram post, and he is likely to carry that same mentality to Milanello.
 
Known for having his own personal mentor and motivator, Bonucci is well aware of what is needed to compete and succeed at the top. He consciously ensures that he is constantly placed in a stimulating environment and is surrounded by encouraging people who are guaranteed to fuel his unwavering passion and desire.
 
All these elements are required traits for a Milan captain, and with the Rossoneri having lacked that strong personality in the locker-room for several years, it comes as no surprise that Vincenzo Montella is tempted to hand him the ‘fascia’.
 
The ominous banner from two years ago, which read: “Game over. Insert coin and save AC Milan.” Seems like a long and distant memory now…  And after a long and patient wait, the fans can now prepare to see a real leader head out of the San Siro tunnel, and he is likely to get an arousing welcome by the Curva Sud. 

​AC Milan are currently in the midst of a historical and stunning transfer campaign that will go down as the most expensive transfer window conducted by an Italian club, and with 10 new faces set to don the famous red and black strip, Vincenzo Montella must surely feel that Christmas has arrived early at Milanello this year. However, the money spent doesn’t guarantee success, Rossella Marrai-Ricco takes a look at why Montella is currently facing the toughest test of his career.

Things are happening at Milan. It seems an odd thing to say, but for several years the Rossoneri have passed through transfer markets signing free agents, taking weeks to secure a deal, and then signing up players largely considered “not Milan quality”.

Times have changed. Silvio Berlusconi’s 31-year spell as owner of the sleeping giants was brought to an end in April, and new owner Yonghong Li has taken over. His takeover has seen him welcome the arrival of Marco Fassone and Massimiliano Mirabelli, and with them, a blank check. Or so it seems.

No longer shackled by the financial constraints of Berlusconi’s inability to invest fresh money into the club he turned into greatness in the late 80s and 90s, the management duo have started to rebuild a competitive squad from scratch.

Well aware that the Rossoneri’s season would commence a month earlier than normal, due to Europa League commitments, Fassone and Mirabelli got to work fast…

Mateo Musacchio was the first to arrive before the Serie A season had even ended, Franck Kessie soon followed, along with Ricardo Rodriguez. Then a scoop out of nowhere for Portugal’s most promising talent, Andre Silva, was secured for a bargain fee of €35 million.

It didn’t end there though... Fabio Borini was snapped up on loan from Sunderland, and while he isn’t considered as glamorous a signing as the other new arrivals, he has a relationship with Montella and will provide necessary depth and versatility to the squad.

Every European club was then left in envy when the continent’s most lethal set-piece taker, Hakan Calhangolu, appeared at Malpensa airport ready to pen in a contract with the Diavoli. His arrival at Casa Milan saw him greeted by a mass group of fans, along with Andrea Conti, who missed his vacation in order to become the seventh signing of the new Milan era.

A brotherly affair soon followed, with Gianluigi Donnarumma deciding to go back on his original decision and pen in a new and improved contract with the team he grew up supporting. Upon pleading for the fans’ forgiveness, his older sibling Antonio was also re-signed to become the club’s third choice stopper. Queue quadruple handshake, and a ‘schiaffo’ from Mirabelli.

Many thought that was the end of Mirabelli’s magic, and with pre-season having officially begun, few were expecting the unthinkable to happen. Enter Leonardo Bonucci.

It took just 48 hours from when the first ‘rumour’ of him being linked to Milan turned into chaotic and joyous scenes at Casa Milan. There, he was greeted by a couple of hundred fans, was given a tour of the Milan Museum, before eventually putting pen-to-paper in a deal which cost Milan a mere €42 million in transfer fees – a steal for one of the world’s best centre-backs.

Rossoneri management hasn’t stopped there though, as Lucas Biglia is just hours away from completing his move to the red and black side of the city, and there are still reports that one of Andrea Belotti, Nikola Kalinic, Renato Sanches or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could join too.

On paper, the transfer window has been nothing short of impressive. Largely surreal for the loyal Milanista, but much needed for a club in desperate need of competing in Europe and for domestic glory again.

Last year, Montella managed to get his squad to punch above their weight… Securing their first piece of silverware back in December against Juventus was no pure fluke; he found a way to instil cohesion, unity, and a hunger amongst his players. Above all, was able to avoid any of the off-field problems with the takeover from filtering through into the squad.

The former Fiorentina tactician created a safe environment for his youngsters to develop and mature in, while he also liked to balance his squad out with experienced personnel across each department on the field.

What is most notable, though, is that most of his players had already worked alongside each other for at least one season, whereas, this year, he affectively has a brand new starting XI at his disposal.

This is where the tricky part comes in…

Out of the new arrivals, only Conti and Kessie have previously worked alongside each other at club level – at last season’s surprise package Atalanta. The Italian full-back did, however, spend the summer playing alongside his new teammates Donnarumma, Manuel Locatelli and Davide Calabria at the U21 Euros, and he is expected to form part of a completely new backline at Milan.

Last term, Montella stuck to his favoured 4-3-3 system, but with the arrival of Bonucci, Conti and Rodriguez, he now has the tactical flexibility to shift and change formations easily.

Conti and Rodriguez undoubtedly boast incredible skills going forward, and possess the pace to overlap and drop back when needed, making them available to play in the wing-back or full-back roles. Meanwhile, Bonucci will add some much-needed experience and know-how to the backline, and it is because of his proficiency and previous success that he is likely to compliment well alongside Alessio Romagnoli, and potentially Musacchio.

The much-improved depth and versatility to Milan’s defensive department will surely see the 43-year-old willingly alternate between a back four and a back three when needed. Montella is no stranger to adjusting his formation to a back three, having done so at Fiorentina.

The midfield dynamic will be an interesting one. Considering Milan spent over €50 million to refurbish that department, Montella will need to juggle the demands of each player carefully.

Kessie is raring to go, while Locatelli and Montolivo will want to compete for their place in the squad. Calhanoglu will feel he is deserving of a starting berth, despite spending the last four months of the 2016/7 campaign suspended. The same will apply for Lucas Biglia, as he will expect to be the conductor in the middle of the park, following another solid campaign with Lazio, while Suso was one of Milan’s best players last term. Although, that doesn’t mean he is guaranteed a starting spot either…

Gianluca Lapadula’s exit means Carlos Bacca and Patrick Cutrone will likely act as back-ups to Andre Silva up front. Some would say, all these options is a good headache to have.

The influx of players, different nationalities, personalities and languages will, however, mean that it will take some time for the squad of players to adapt to their surrounds, adjust to their new teammates and formations, and fully understand Montella’s coaching philosophy.

Last year, the Napoli-born coach led Milan to fifth place on the Serie A table and to their first trophy in six years. It was a good outcome considering the players he had at his disposal, and with latest investments having already generated massive hype, there is already talk of the Rossoneri being title contenders.

This year, the pressure to succeed almost immediately will be expected from both the media and fans – something last year’s squad didn’t have to worry about. Not to mention, the Rossoneri will also be participating in the Europa League, adding an extra competition that wasn't there before. This is what makes it Montella’s biggest test so far.

He will have to find a way to stave off the pressure, fina a way to equally utilize his squad between competitions, and man-manage his players in the same quiet and professional manner he conducted himself with last term. He, his players and club management must accept that it will take time for his squad to become a ‘well-oiled’ machine, but there is a delicate line… If it takes too much time, then he will start to feel the heat, and questions will be asked.

After 12 months of being able to go about things rather quietly, and with no severe weight of expectations on his shoulders, Montella will now be tested in a new manner. It will be interesting to see how he fares.

Mino Raiola may have pulled off some of the biggest deals in European football, but not even he can use those signing-on fees to hide behind his continuous contradictions. Rossella Marrai-Ricco unravels Raiola’s latest comments on the Gigio-saga.
 
Famously known as Europe’s super agent, Raiola has once again been dominating headlines after his client Gianluigi Donnarumma opted to not renew his contract with Milan. The teen’s decision was confirmed last Thursday evening, and since then, it has resulted in many having accused Gigio’s representative of persuading the 18-year-old to choose a different path – a path, which would ultimately land Raiola more money…
 
Unsurprisingly, the negative press has been a bitter pill to swallow for Raiola, leaving him in a position where he needed to act fast. What to do? Host a press conference, of course!
 
With only a handful of carefully selected media houses present – SportItalia withdrew on a matter of principle, claiming the media cannot be used only when he needs – the agent sat down to reveal his account of the negotiations. And true to his bombastic persona, the 49-year-old didn’t hold back.
 
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Raiola declared: “The situation had become too violent and hostile, so there was no way out. We took a decision that we didn’t want to take. It was nothing to do with money. We were threatened. Donnarumma’s family was threatened, both with not playing anymore and threatened with death. You can’t keep a player by threatening him.”
 
He then mirrored similar sentiments to Gazzetta dello Sport, where he claimed that Donnarumma was perturbed by the ultimatum reportedly given to him by Milan’s sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli. This was to be the first of several contradictions on the night.
 
“What really struck him was that remark by Mirabelli -- 'If you don't sign, you're going to stay in the stands,'” he declared. “Let's see what happens now, but it stinks of mobbing around here. It's best to die on your feet than live on your knees.”
 
Just three weeks prior, however, Raiola swiftly rubbished reports claiming such an incident occurred, declaring that he believed that it was a third party’s intention to strain the relationship between club, player and agent.
 
“Nobody said Gigio doesn't want to renew with Milan," Raiola told Radio Deejay. “I don't think Milan's directors said any such thing [about banishing him to the stands]. I think people are just trying to create a war between Milan and me.”
 
So was their an ultimatum/ “threat’” or not? Milan should know better that it isn't in their interest to make their star player feel uncomfortable.
 
It now seems that Vincenzo Montella will have the final say on whether or not Donnarumma will play next season, should he not get sold in the summer. Still, that hasn’t stopped Marco Fassone and Mirabelli from having already sprung into action in finding a new stopper for the club. Both Norbeto Neto and Mattia Perin’s agents were at Casa Milan on Monday afternoon.
 
Fassone made it very clear that he needed to have a back-up plan in case negotiations went awry, but according to Raiola, the two parties hadn’t even commenced discussions, before going on to claim – in the same sentence – he tried to negotiate a release clause.
 
"We never started negotiating,” he told GDS. “They tried to provoke us with a €200 million release clause but I answered with €10 million, which could be €5 million if Milan didn't qualify for the Champions League."
 
A reported €25 million in salaries across five years was the final figure in Milan’s concluding offer, and when it became known that Donnarumma would not sign, it became a question of whether or not the goalkeeper was chasing money.
 
In Thursday’s press conference, Fassone claimed that Donnarumma’s decision wasn’t based purely on finances, with Raiola echoing the same sentiments.
 
“Gigio has always known his place, and he never had any economic demands,” continued Raiola to the famous pink paper, before going on to question how Milan spend their funds.
 
“And then if you have a top player in your club like Gigio, why do you go and offer double or triple for Morata or Aubameyang? It makes no sense. Gigio is only 18-year-old? What does it even mean? Real Madrid are buying a 16-year-old Brazilian for €45m [Vinícius Júnior from Flamengo]… do you know what he’s doing? Quality is not of age.”
 
If money wasn't such a big deal, why question Milan's intentions on the market or bring up comparisons to other teenagers? 
​
Undoubtedly, the biggest talking point of all was how Raiola claimed that Milan threatened their own player. A staggering claim which could ultimately have legal ramifications, and one, which surprises many, as he is the first agent to make such a bold statement.
 
“I don’t think we did anything wrong, we were consistent,” Fassone revealed told Sky Sport Italia. “We always laughed at the same things with Raiola. We made an important offer and showed our affection for [Donnarumma] on several occasions.
 
“If Gigio has been threatened, like Raiola said, I’ll get to the bottom of it and tell Raiola and the player that we’ll do everything to stick by Gigio.
 
“Mirabelli? No-one’s ever accused him of having a threatening attitude, Raiola was the first. Massimiliano does everything for the good of Milan and I reject Raiola’s claim that there are two Milans.”
 
Of course, what occurs behind the scenes is largely kept quiet, but if there were any form of threat from Milan, surely even his prized journalists would have broken the news if and when it happened? Also, it’s no secret that Raiola was never happy about Mirabelli replacing Adriano Galliani…
 
Fassone and Mirabelli modified their offers to suit the demands of the client, but, at the same time, remained firm and in control of the situation. By not caving into Raiola’s demands, trying to maintain as transparent to the best of their ability, and by remaining professional throughout the negotiations, Milan management ultimately outshone Paul Pogba’s representative in many aspects.
 
Raiola has undoubtedly contradicted himself a fair few times, and it’s likely that many more discrepancies will appear the more he talks to media. But with both him and the Rossoneri CEO having already provided their own accounts on the matter, the only thing that really interests the public now is Donnarumma’s opinion on the saga. 

​ 
On Monday, Alessio Romagnoli committed his future to Milan, and while it would normally be a cause for celebration, some fans have been hesitant to celebrate it. Rossella Marrai-Ricco looks at why it’s unlikely that he will end up like Thiago Silva.
 
Last year, AC Milan and its fans enjoyed an entertaining summer. It was filled with the introduction of fresh new faces at Milanello follow a cool €250 million spent in transfers. The new owners, it seemed, were shooting for the stars. With big aspirations, comes the need for big pockets. 
 
Since day one, though, Younghong Li and his consortium have been the constant topic of speculation, with the media often trying to find a way to put out the Diavolo’s flame. And it hasn’t stopped…
 
Just over a year since their infamous takeover, very little has changed. In fact, the rumours have grown increasingly worse after Milan’s bid to end the Financial Fair Play investigation was rejected by UEFA, leaving many fans and Italian football worried about their potential fate. 
 
Such headlines have followed: “AC Milan face possible eviction from Europa League.” “Mass exodus awaits Milan in order to balance the books.”
 
Such headlines are concerning, of course… Milan do very well stand a chance of being evicted from the Europa League should they not find a way to pay €30m to UEFA by the end of June. While few hardly forget the reason why Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were both sold to PSG back in 2012. To this day, their transfers still leave a bitter taste in any Milanista’s mouth. 
 
It’s because of the Brazilian and the Swede’s sudden farewell from Milanello that, perhaps, Alessio Romagnoli’s contract extension has left a certain percentage of the club’s supporters adopting a rather hesitant approach to celebrating.  
 
Since his arrival to San Siro outfit back in 2015, the 23-year-old has shown glimpses of the incredible potential Thiago Silva had displayed when he first joined the Rossoneri at the age of 24. Having come in as a replacement to the outgoing Alessandro Nesta, Silva was largely considered to be the captain in waiting.
 
So much so, that in July 2012, he penned in contract extension until 2017 with the club. An official statement read: "Thiago Silva himself embodies the class and style of Milan, the charisma of a club that loves the game but also the result and behaviour. And so his stay with the Rossoneri, decided by president Berlusconi, preserves the Milan identity.” Twelve days later, he signed for PSG. 
 
Similarly, to Thiago Silva, Romagnoli had also been tipped to become the heir to the great Nesta. Beyond their shared position on the field, there have been several interesting parallels between them. Like his counterpart, the Milan defender also grew up a Lazio fan. They both stand at equal heights of 6 ft 2, read the game well, are capable of making elegant tackles and are very confident on the ball. It’s because of this that the youngster chose to sport the former Lazio skipper’s iconic No.13 upon his arrival to Milan – something that pulled on the heartstrings of the supporters. 
 
Despite the sluggish start to the Serie A season, where he had to overcome injury and adjust to his new defensive partner Leonardo Bonucci, Romagnoli proved why he’s one of the most promising centre-backs in Europe. With a pass accuracy of 91.4% last term and averaging 5.3 clearances per game – this, according to Whoscored.com – the former Roma man has seen himself become one of the most talked about transfer targets in Europe. 
 
Chelsea, Juventus and Liverpool have all been linked with a possible swoop for his signature. And with the club’s Europa League status in a precarious position, the rumours started to come thick and fast. A bidding war was ready to be made. But before anyone could start, in true Marco Fassone and Massiliano Mirabelli fashion, they “passiamo alle cose formali” (We move onto formal matters), and surprised everyone with a contract renewal. 
 
In an unexpected Facebook Live video broadcast, Milan sent fans into frenzy with a “special” announcement. The teaser? Live footage of someone walking through the Mondo Milan museum at Casa Milan, before following Fassone, Mirabelli and Romagnoli from behind to the trophy room where the big announcement was made. 
 
The deal? A new and improved contract that would tie him down to the club until 2022. 
 
“I hope to continue here for many years to win a lot and to bring AC Milan where they deserve,” he told Milan TV, before taking to his own Instagram to declare his intention with the jersey.
 
"Another important step in my career, thank you AC Milan for the trust. I will honour this agreement and this jersey every day,” he wrote. 
 
It was a quick and genius way to put to rest some of the media reports, but it wasn’t anything they hadn’t done before. In fact, it was the second time in two years that Milan had acted swiftly upon protecting their assets in Romagnoli. 
 
In August 2016, Milan took to social media to declare that they would not sell the former Sampdoria defender, despite receiving a “significant” bid for his services, and Monday’s declaration of extending his contract is once again proof in the belief and the vision they have in him.

​Naturally, Romagnoli’s extension left many fans with mixed emotions. Seeing him commit to the club when their European status is that of a precarious one fills the room with buoyant optimism, but the fact that Thiago Silva’s contract extension was dealt with in a similar light has given the fans flashbacks of that disappointing day. 
 
Still, there is a different feeling about Alessio’s deal in comparison to that of Silva’s. Regardless of what happens with the club owners, Milan’s new management has to be commended for instilling a transparent and communicative front when it came to important issues. Respect was given to the fans, and in turn, they garnered admiration from the supporters.
 
If Milan absolutely needed to sell players to ease the financial situation, things would have been communicated by now. In fact, the only thing Milan management has done is show they are determined to bring the club back to the top again and by doing so, locking down Romagnoli’s services would be one of the requirements. They’ve now done that. In fact, their ability to act quick on it rather than wait until the transfer window starts heating up, shows they are also trying to put the fans at ease too. 
 
The defender’s extension is certainly a step in the right direction for the club and moves them one step closer in achieving their vision.