Speaking at the "Sky Inclusion Days" event, former AC Milan player and executive Zvonimir Boban discussed the Rossoneri and major current issues in Serie A on stage at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan, alongside Sky Sport director Federico Ferri.
Can Massimiliano Allegri compensate for some of the problems we saw at Milan last season?
"I think at the very least, it’s now clear how many mistakes were made — how much incompetence there was, how much arrogance in thinking you could run a football club like a business and not as a club, which Milan must be. It can be a business after that, but first and foremost, it must be a club. That’s a hard concept to make people understand if they don’t come from football. It’s not easy. Now, though, they’ve understood it. A proper sporting director has come in (Igli Tare), and in my opinion, he’s a very good one. He understands football, achieved great results with Lazio, pays attention to every detail, works around the clock, stays close to the team, knows when to intervene with players and the coach. That role is essential.
Of course, when you look at things from a businessman’s perspective — someone who’s never been involved in football — they say: ‘Well, I have scouts, I choose the players and the coach, why do I need a sporting director if I already have people doing that job?’ But to me, that was a huge mistake, because in the end, no one did that job and it was sorely missed. The fact they’ve realized this now, even after initially refusing to appoint one, shows a sense of responsibility — and that’s the right approach. This is the right path, and I hope that Allegri, together with Milan, can help the club return to where it belongs: not just winning Coppa Italias or Super Cups, but league titles and Champions Leagues. Obviously, this doesn’t happen in three months, but I believe that next season a lot can be built. We’ll see how the transfer market goes, how Milan builds the team, who leaves and who arrives — then we can judge better. What’s certain is that the current way isn’t it. I hope they change course, and I think the club is already moving in a better direction. I wish Milan to return to the level it deserves."
Is Milan still lacking a lot, in terms of players, to return to the level it deserves?
"It depends on who stays. If you sell Reijnders — which seems to be the intention — then you’re selling one of your best players, and that’s not building. That’s going back to being a business, not a club. And that’s certainly not the way to build the best possible Milan. That’s the key point.
Looking at last season’s squad, I always saw a lot of problems in defense. In midfield and attack, Milan were strong. Then they brought in Gimenez, who struggled for a thousand reasons. He’s not a phenomenon, but he’s a player who should do well — and if the team performs, he’ll score his goals. He’s always done that, and he’ll keep doing it. So in my opinion, it’s a solid signing — not a top one, but a good one. You’ve got Fofana, who’s an excellent player. You’ve got speed like no other team in Italy, with Leao, Pulisic, and Reijnders who can break games open. So Milan has massive potential. They just need to sort out the defense, because in my view that’s Milan’s biggest problem."
On Modric’s future, Boban said:
"Luka Modric — one day he’s in Miami, the next he’s in Saudi Arabia, the third he’s at Dinamo Zagreb, the fourth at Catania, and the fifth at Milan (laughs). At this point, until he decides, there’s no point commenting. After so many years at Real Madrid, it’s clear he needs time to make a decision, and once he does, we’ll comment on it. Until then, it makes no sense. What’s clear is that he’s still in great shape and can still bring top-quality football to any team he joins."
