It’s not just the Milanese lifestyle or the charm of San Siro (which can also become demanding…) but a matter of redemption: after a league and Champions League season below expectations, there’s no queue at the exit.
On the contrary, there’s traffic at Milanello: despite foreign interference, Reijnders was the first to choose to stay. Pulisic will follow him. Theo is ready to line up. Just like Leao, who never misses a chance to declare himself rossonero at heart, up to Maignan, who is reflecting on a renewal offer that is less generous than what it could have been some time ago.
Sense of belonging
The best players could find elsewhere the international spotlight that Milan still has to earn: difficult through the league, the direct clash with Bologna remains, which is worth the Coppa Italia and a ticket to Europe. Despite the difficulties, the criticisms, the whistles, or perhaps precisely because of this, within the group, a rossonero sense of belonging has grown stronger. Away from Milan, Reijnders could have found richer contracts and teams already built to win: instead, he chose to extend his Rossonero bond until 2030.
The same could apply to Pulisic: a renewal is ready until June 2029, with a salary increased from 4 to 5 million per year. The negotiations for the signing have dampened the enthusiasm of other interested clubs: Captain America intends to stay where he is.
Theo’s case is different: by moving away from San Siro, he could have earned more, but with less ambition. Last winter, Como went as far as offering him eight million per year to bring him to the lake.
A firm no: no other high-level sporting proposals on the table. After an underwhelming season (the curve is only now slightly climbing again), Theo seems to have become aware of the situation: Milan will not offer him the same figures, on the contrary, he has received a downgraded proposal. A longer contract compared to the current expiry in 2026, but with lower figures than today.
Hernandez’s salary is 4.5 million per year: for this season’s performances, a bit too heavy. Hence the club’s desire to keep its left-back, while revising the terms of the agreement: instead of looking elsewhere, Theo is inclined to accept.
Maignan's renewal with Milan...
The situation resembles that of Maignan, although less extreme: even Magic Mike has lowered his eye-catching numbers, being the protagonist of a subdued season. Milan would like to keep him but with a salary in line with his latest performances: today he earns three and a half million euros, and to stay, he would have to “settle” for 4.5 plus bonuses. Growing numbers, but less significant than those talked about just a few months ago, when Mike was indeed performing miracles and, for the renewal of his contract expiring in 2026, was asking for a Leao-level salary. Translated economically: seven million or thereabouts. Today, Maignan also belongs to the group of rossonero veterans eager for redemption. That’s why he too could soon decide to sit at the table with the club and agree on a renewal.
From Rafael Leao to Fikayo Tomori...
It’s not a matter of signatures for Leao, but of opportunities: after an inconsistent season, who will want to come forward for Rafa? The release clause, moreover, is discouraging: 175 million euros. In January, there were rumors from Arabia, immediately silenced by the club. Will they call again? It’s possible, and if so, it would be Rafa who declines the invitation. Leao never misses a chance to declare himself rossonero, though fans would like him to be clearer on the pitch too..., and his first desire is to add more trophies to his Milan record. The Coppa Italia wouldn’t satisfy the hunger.
Goalkeeper, full-back, midfielder, and wingers. For a solid base, a center-forward is missing (Milan has one: Santiago Gimenez) and a central defender. The back-three formation has brought Tomori back to high levels, he who in January, without a guaranteed starting spot, had rejected the approaches of Juventus and Tottenham to remain rossonero. And in this season finale, he seeks new confirmation, as pointed out by Gazzetta dello Sport in this morning's print edition.
