Cardinale, over the past month, has taken control of AC Milan by reshaping the club’s organisational structure.
The first move in the market was the push for Gonçalo Ramos, signed before the transfer window opened. They will not stop here: Barcelona midfielder Casadó and Benfica defender António Silva are both admired, with talks already underway. Why can they move like this? Big signings must be followed by major sales, writes La Repubblica on their website.
Why Milan can afford to spend 70 million on Ramos:
The Rossoneri, after three consecutive positive results, will close the 2025/26 accounts on Tuesday with an expected loss of around 20–30 million, despite 100 million in revenue from various capital gains and 20 million from the 'IMG' case (the result of a Serie A agreement over a long-standing dispute concerning TV rights from 2008 to 2018). The loss was expected, given that Champions League revenue has not come in this season. Next season there will be the Europa League: a strong run generates 30-40 million in income between UEFA prize money and matchday revenue.
An expensive transfer campaign will affect the finances, however. For example, the Ramos deal, 74 million plus 7 in bonuses, will cost the club around 28 million per year. AC Milan has accounted for having to absorb a significant loss in 2026/27. The system will not collapse, but the club will face a choice: either make immediate capital gains to balance the books or accept finishing in the red while keeping a competitive squad in order to return to the Champions League. And perhaps consider selling next June if necessary (as Roma must do now).
Therefore, Milan can afford Ramos and other signings too, provided it sells some surplus players effectively. In this sense, the channel created with Jorge Mendes (Ramos’s agent) will be useful: with his help they will look for buyers for Leão and Gimenez (Porto could be an option for the Mexican centre-forward). And not only them...
