A new Italian sporting director, a new Italian coach, and a Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a new role—will this be Milan’s future? This was reported this morning by La Gazzetta dello Sport, which on one hand highlights the strange situation of the Swedish executive, who has not been seen at Milanello for three weeks, while on the other explains that, according to the club's plans, both the new sporting director and the new coach will be Italian rather than foreign.
The latest on Ibrahimovic's situation?
Even yesterday, Ibrahimovic did not show up at Milanello to see the team and support them just days before the crucial away match against Napoli, which could be Milan’s last chance to keep their Champions League hopes alive. The Swede has been suffering from a severe flu, but it seems clear that the internal power dynamics at the club have shifted at the executive level following CEO Giorgio Furlani’s well-known trip to New York to meet Gerry Cardinale, the head of RedBird and owner of the club. Not coincidentally, it is now the Milan CEO himself who is leading the discussions for the new sporting director role. We will see if Ibra returns through the gates of Milanello today and whether he will be in Naples on Sunday evening for the match.
Regarding the new sporting director—a position that has been vacant at Milan for some time—those in charge at the club have mapped out a clear and precise direction: it will be an Italian or, at the very least, someone with several seasons of experience in Serie A and a deep knowledge of Italian football. This is why, at the moment, the most talked-about names are Paratici, Tare, and D’Amico. And after two foreign coaches, the next manager will also be Italian, with experience and a winning track record. He will not be a gamble but rather someone who brings solid guarantees to Milanello after a rather disappointing season.
