The new era for AC Milan effectively begins on Thursday, June 13, marking a sort of year zero following the five-year tenure of Pioli that ended with the 2023/24 season.
Now, Gerry Cardinale has placed the Rossoneri in the hands of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has been appointed Senior Advisor and will be speaking to the press for the first time in his new role. But what can we expect from the 11:40 AM (CEST) conference?
The name of Milan’s next coach is already known; the official announcement, which might come directly from Ibra, is the only thing missing. Paulo Fonseca, the Portuguese former Roma boss who led Lille last season, has been chosen from a list of candidates for his ability to work with young players and his international experience. Everything is ready on the contract front, with a three-year deal worth 3 million annually plus bonuses already signed.
Continuity within change: Fonseca’s preferred formation is the 4-2-3-1, the same one Pioli used most frequently. This means that what worked can be maintained, while the Portuguese coach will be tasked with improving on the aspects that have prevented Milan from competing with Inter in the past two seasons, especially in direct clashes.
The 4-2-3-1, by moving a player from the attacking midfield to central midfield, can become a 4-3-3, which is the formation "suggested" by Ibra in a post on X a few days ago. The 4-2-3-1 is also the tactical context in which the chosen attacker, Joshua Zirkzee, performed well at Bologna.
Regarding the Dutchman's arrival, only the final hurdle remains, to be overcome before other teams can intervene.
Ibrahimovic, one of Zirkzee’s idols, played an important role in convincing the 23-year-old striker of the merits of the Rossoneri project, personally getting involved. It is likely that the Swedish legend will also address the future number 9 during the conference. We just need to wait a little bit more to know for sure, as relayed via Calciomercato.com.
