The season still has many matchdays to unfold, and all the verdicts to be written, with Pioli still in the race for the Europa League and the climb from the third position in the league. But Milan's goal for the 2024/25 coaching position is becoming increasingly clear: Antonio Conte, the former national team coach and a former champion in Italy (Juventus and Inter) and in England (Chelsea).
The push to bring him back to Serie A, after his departure from Tottenham in March 2023 and the subsequent sabbatical, would have been initiated by Ibrahimovic, in his increasingly established role as a consultant at RedBird Capital with the majority shareholder Gerry Cardinale.
Effectively a de facto executive, with a presence becoming less sporadic at Milanello and at matches at San Siro and away, combined with involvement in youth development, linked not only to the presence of his two sons in the youth sector, Ibra is the most listened to in the staff of the American manager and has a strong established relationship with Antonio Conte, considered the ideal man to win and certainly intrigued by the idea of winning the title with three different top clubs.
Milan interested in Conte? But the competition is high...
The operation is not simple, both due to the potential competition from Napoli and Juventus and because he is an expensive coach (earning no less than 6 million euros net per year) and has always been demanding in the transfer market: he would hardly accept the departure of one of the trio of team stars (Mike Maignan- Theo Hernandez- Rafael Leao), who would, however, guarantee capital gains for the American ownership, who are sensitive to this subject, as evidenced by the Sandro Tonali deal.
The winter transfer market closed without much excitement (Gabbia and Terracciano) after the 125 million spent in the summer.
The question now is whether to part ways for a sum ranging from 70 million upwards with Maignan (wanted by Bayern) and/or Hernandez (Psg, City, United, Bayern plus Real Madrid, which has the so-called matching rights on him, the possibility to match any offer): both have contracts expiring in 2026, and without renewal in 2025, they would lose value.
As for Leao, he would become the target of Psg if Mbappé were to go to Real Madrid. All of this against the backdrop of the potential entry of a Middle Eastern or American partner into Milan, who would then have a say in the coaching matter: Motta, Palladino, and De Zerbi, or even Klopp, would enter the race. Although Conte remains the name that could satisfy all current and future executives.
Source: Repubblica
READ MORE | Maignan asks for a high salary… Like Leao’s | The club is not giving up in talks for extension
