The AC Milan club management is seeing the team crumble match after match despite bringing in an experienced coach in December, Sergio Conceicao, who managed to win the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia immediately, and also despite investing heavily in the last January transfer market. The Rossoneri, in fact, with the guidance of CEO Giorgio Furlani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Geoffrey Moncada, signed Santiago Gimenez from Feyenoord, Kyle Walker, on loan from Manchester City, Joao Felix from Chelsea, also on loan, Warren Bondo, and Riccardo Sottil. The fans expected better results and that these players might turn things around, especially in the league standings in an effort to secure a spot in the next Champions League edition.
Champions League is now a distant dream for AC Milan
With the latest lethal mistakes in defence and lack of concentration in front of goal, the team is not able to compete at the highest positions. In fact, Sergio Conceicao's team sits in the 9th league position with 48 points only after 31 matches played. Meanwhile Bologna is fourth with 57 points, Juventus is fifth with 56 points and Lazio is sixth with 55 points. As for AS Roma and Fiorentina, they are seventh and eighth with 53 and 52 points.
The consequences of missing out on major European competitions.
Missing out on the Champions League would have disastrous consequences even from a financial point of view. Milan is a club with its finances in order and a balanced budget, but not participating in next year's Champions League would result in a loss of 60 million euros, the amount Milan earned this year for participating in the new format. These missing revenues will inevitably weigh on the next transfer market, as the amount allocated for purchases will be lower than last year. This is where player sales come into play, especially for those at the end of their cycle or players on loan who are no longer considered useful for the project.
How will Milan react in the transfer market without Champions League revenue?
It is likely that AC Milan would have to sacrifice a key player, or even two, to fund the next transfer market campaign and to compensate for the lack of the significant amount of money that would have reinforced the budget in case of qualification to the elite European competition. The candidates to leave? According to the latest reports, Theo Hernandez's contract may not be renewed and a sale in the summer is possible. Fikayo Tomori as well as Malick Thiaw have also generated attention in the Premier League and Bundesliga respectively.
As for AC Milan's CEO, Giorgio Furlani, he is reportedly working on strengthening the club's presence also in the Middle East region to try to secure the support of commercial partners. As per the recent updates, the Italian executive did fly to Dubai. The former Elliott portfolio manager has met with key sponsors: Fly Emirates
(the main shirt sponsor of Milan) and PUMA (the technical sponsor), from which the club earns about 60 million euros per season, equally divided. But that's not all. Furlani also met with MSC (sleeve sponsor at 5 million euros per year) and Konami (Official Training Wear Partner, contributing about 7 million euros per season). The Middle East region is also strategic for the development of the AC Milan brand: in that area, the Rossoneri club's has a fan base of about 6 million supporters.
Obviously, maintaining the presence in such an important region is important, especially in delicate moments. AC Milan has always been attentive on that front and are aware of its importance, as they even recently marked the first anniversary of Casa Milan Dubai, celebrating a landmark year of growth and engagement across the Middle East. Since opening its doors, Casa Milan Dubai has established itself as a vital hub for AC Milan in the region, supporting the Club's local strategy and reinforcing the Club's strategic global expansion under RedBird Capital's leadership. The Rossoneri's strengthened presence has cemented AC Milan as the most supported Italian football club in the MENA region and the top Italian team in popularity within both Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
By the way, if you are looking to join the Rossoneri fans in Dubai, visit the club's headquarters there, or take a look at its new academy, then you should certainly be on the lookout for a luxury car rental there which would take you from place to place in style and comfort, and with Trinity car rental Dubai, you can choose from an impressive fleet of 80+ luxury cars available.
Then, after UAE, AC Milan's CEO has also met with RedBird founder and club owner Gerry Cardinale in the USA, according to newspaper reports. The idea was to establish a vision for next season and also discuss the new developments in the sporting director issue.
Who will lead Milan next season?
After underwhelming results, it seems likely that Sergio Conceicao should leave, despite winning a trophy, and even if he does manage to win the Coppa Italia trophy. Candidates? Several names are being linked, from Roberto De Zerbi, Massimiliano Allegri, Antonio Conte, and even Maurizio Sarri. But, perhaps it is safe to say that no final decision will take place right now, at least not until a new sporting director is hired.
The new executive would fill which has been abandoned since the exit of Frederic Massara who left with club legend Paolo Maldini. The names who are circulating right now are Tony D'Amico and Igle Tare. As per the latest news, it seems that Tare, the ex Lazio man, is ahead in the race as he is free from any contractual obligations, unlike D'Amico, who is plying his trade at Atalanta.
Conclusion
AC Milan are currently going through a rough period. Fans are unhappy with the sporting results, and the ownership is exploring ways to start the new season strongly—both on and off the pitch. New decisions are awaited, ones that must elevate the team to the next level in order to compete at the highest level once again.
