The recently finished 2022/23 season was a strange one in the red and black half of Milan. The year prior, the Rossoneri ended their decade-plus-long wait for the Scudetto, keeping their composure to seal the title on the final day of the season with a resounding 3-0 victory away at Sassuolo. Their defense of the crown was blown out of the water immediately courtesy of the brilliance of Napoli, who themselves ended a three-decade drought this term.
But while the Ciucciarelli may have had the domestic bragging rights this term, AC Milan finally returned to the upper echelons of European football. The seven-time UEFA Champions League winners are one of the most successful teams to have ever graced the competition, and only Real Madrid have lifted the famed ‘Big Eared’ trophy more times than Stefano Pioli’s team. However, they had not won a knockout game in the continent’s premier club competition since a 4-3 aggregate victory over Arsenal back in 2012.
That all changed this term as the Rossoneri reached the semifinals of the Champions League against all odds, defeating the newly crowned Italian champions along the way. The campaign would of course end in tears, however, with cross-city rivals Inter winning the Derby della Madonnina semifinal. As such, Pioli will tell you that there is plenty of room for improvement within the ranks of his squad.
New Funding
AC Milan announced several partnerships, such as the one with a prominent online casino last May which has allowed them to further bolster their transfer budget. The partnership aims to bring a unique and engaging betting experience to the club’s dedicated fans, as well as add to their global brand awareness and add much-needed funds to their coffers. Their gaming portfolio will rival the various jackpot slots at Joe Fortune online casino, which is a distinct gaming platform with a strong reputation for quality and safety. The new partnership has provided Piolu and his Rossoneri with plenty of new spending power, and that may very well aid him in bringing in these three stars this summer.
Marcus Thuram
If Milan had a pure out-and-out striker this season, they may very well have passed the Nerazzurri and got into the first Champions League final since 2007. Indeed the difference between them and Inter in the semifinals this season was the latter's striking options. They had the likes of Lautaro Martínez, Edin Džeko and Romelu Lukaku to call upon, while Milan had to rely on their ageing veteran target man, Olivier Giroud. That may well change this summer if the reported addition of Borussia Mönchengladbach hitman Marcus Thuram makes his way to the San Siro. The Frenchman has hit 16 goals in 32 games in Germany this season, as well as providing an additional seven assists. He is out of contract this summer and as such, he could head to Milan on a free transfer, something that will make him an extremely attractive prospect to Piolo and the powers that be at the San Siro.
Daichi Kamada
Another out-of-contract Bundesliga star that has been linked with a move to Italy in the close season is Japanese attacking midfielder Daichi Kamada. The 26-year-old has been instrumental at Eintracht Frankfurt since his €1.6m move from Sagan Tosu back in 2017 and he was one of the key reasons why the German side romped to Europa League glory last season. He has racked up 40 goals and additional 33 assists during his six years at the Commerzbank Arena and he would be sorely missed at the 42,000-capacity stadium should he choose to move on
this summer. Kamada has a long list of potential suitors, and Milan are thought to be at the front of the line. A
fourth-place finish in Serie A means that another year of Champions League football awaits the Rossoneri next season, and that could be enough to convince the 28-time Japan international to make the move to the San Siro in the coming weeks.
Christian Pulisic
If Milan need to strengthen this summer, then English Premier League outfit Chelsea is in dire need of a clear-out. The Blues endured a disastrous campaign last term as they finished way down in 12th in the league this season, a whopping 45 points adrift of eventual champions and treble winners Manchester City. Early exits in the FA Cup and League Cup and a humiliating Champions League quarterfinal defeat to Real Madrid have all heaped more misery on the Stamford Bridge faithful.
The West London outfit forked out an eye-watering £300m on new additions in January alone, and further spending is expected under new manager Mauricio Pochettino this summer. As such, exits are also to be expected, and one man who has made his intentions to leave The Bridge clear this summer is Captain America himself, Christian Pulisic. The former Borussia Dortmund man has found playing time hard to come by this term, and Chelsea’s loss could be Milan’s gain.
