In today’s edition of Il Corriere dello Sport, penned by Franco Ordine, the topic is Adriano Galliani’s potential return to AC Milan. The article outlines the timeline and events pointing toward September as the key moment, when the "closing" will formalize the transfer of Monza’s ownership from Fininvest to the American fund Beckett Layne Ventures, which is already working through a new sporting management structure: Baldissoni as CEO and Nicolas Burdisso as Sporting Director.
Once those documents are signed, Adriano Galliani will be professionally free and able to intertwine his story once again with that of Milan, where, alongside the late Silvio Berlusconi, he already wrote page after page of success: 29 trophies in 31 years. There is already a preliminary agreement in place, reached with Milan owner Gerry Cardinale during a meeting on the French Riviera.
Galliani has received strong endorsements: CEO Furlani, who, as Ordine writes, “has always been captivated by Galliani’s charisma”, pushed for his return, and RedBird’s Senior Advisor Zlatan Ibrahimović has also given his approval.
His role will be clear and defined: Head of Football, the top figure in the football operations. This position will not conflict with that of President Paolo Scaroni, who will continue with representational duties and the complex new stadium dossier. Even in the Berlusconi era, Galliani had always made it clear that he didn’t seek the role of president, even when the former Milan owner was suspended due to a conflict of interest. On that occasion, Galliani left the position symbolically "vacant", stating there was only one person worthy of holding it.
With Galliani, Milan regains a figure who is held in extremely high regard internationally, as evidenced by two recent events. In mid-June, he was invited to Madrid by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez to serve as godfather at the diploma ceremony of the 'Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid' for the 2024/25 academic year. Then, in mid-July, he was the only Italian executive invited by FIFA to New York to celebrate the conclusion of the Club World Cup. On that occasion, he had two exceptional companions: Shevchenko and Carlo Ancelotti.
Among the many criticisms aimed at the American-owned Milan is the club’s loss of political influence in Serie A, the Italian Football Federation, and even within the refereeing world. In recent years, the balance of power has shifted toward the other side of the Naviglio (canal), thanks to the substantial influence of Giuseppe Marotta, Inter president and federal councilor. Galliani’s return would also strengthen the club’s sporting management group. It is no secret that he has a deep footballing affection for Max Allegri, whom he brought from Cagliari to Milan, and they have always remained in close and cordial contact over the years.
Ordine concludes with an exchange, shared with him by a “Milanese little bird”:
"In your opinion, if Galliani had been present in the Lega Calcio, would the Bologna-Milan match last season have been postponed?"
The answer: "Probably not."
