Milanello Corner

AC Milan v Bologna Match Preview: Leao Still Out

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 15:43:00 +0000

AC Milan are eyeing their second league win this season and their first at home as they face Bologna at San Siro this Sunday. Unfortunately, Massimiliano Allegri's side will still be playing without their star forward, Rafael Leao, for this weekend's tie.

Milan to Battle Bologna Without Leao

The Portuguese international has been out for almost a month now, following the striker's calf injury, which he picked up in Milan's Coppa Italia match against Bari. Leao's injury has forced Allegri to adjust his approach for the early part of the season, as the former Lille and Sporting CP player was being prepared to lead the Rossoneri's front line.

Milan's boss was initially hoping that his star attacker would be able to get back on the pitch after the recent international break. However, Leao is yet to receive clearance from the club's medical team, as they believe he still needs a bit more time to fully recover and return to the pitch.

This situation means that the Rossoneri will have to continue their season still without their talisman, at least for their home game against Bologna. According to Allegri, Leao might only return to action for Milan's game against Napoli on September 28.

Rabiot to Start for Milan

It's not all bad news for the Rossoneri, as for their Bologna clash, Allegri's men will be able to count on their newest arrival, Adrien Rabiot. The French international is in good shape, although he hasn't played much at the start of the season at Marseille.

Not only will the Frenchman be part of Milan's squad this Sunday, but the latest news in Italy suggests that he will be playing from the start. Rabiot will reportedly be part of the Rossoneri's midfield trio with Luka Modric, Youssouf Fofana, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who could play further forward.

That setup also means that Christian Pulisic might be starting from the bench, as the coach looks to start with more focus on the midfield. Moreover, Pulisic's condition is also probably not at its sharpest yet, at the start of this season. The American international also came off the bench in Milan's previous league win against Lecce.

Milan's probable lineup vs Bologna:

Milan (3-5-2): Maignan(g); Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic/De Winter; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Estupinan; Loftus-Cheek, Gimenez.

AC Milan Summer Transfer (2025/26) Deadline Day : Rabiot Done, More to Come?

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 03:24:00 +0000

AC Milan will reportedly be quite busy on deadline day as they are set to finalize some ins and outs for the summer transfer window this season. The latest report suggests that they are set to sign Adrien Rabiot, while also ready to offload the likes of Yunus Musah and Samuel Chukwueze at the very least.

Transfer Ins/Arrivals

On the arrival, multiple reports have revealed that the Rossoneri already agreed terms with Olympique Marseille for the signing of Adrien Rabiot for a 10 million euros fee. Milan also have an agreement in place with the player, so a contract signing is the only thing that's missing aside from a medical check-up.

Aside from the addition of Rabiot, there are also reports of potential arrival in the defensive department with Liverpool's Joe Gomez, looking as the most possible. The Rossoneri, reportedly, have agreed on a fee worth 15 million euros with the Reds and are working to secure a personal agreement with the player.

However, it's also reported that a deal will only go forward if Liverpool can secure the signature of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. At the moment, there's still no official confirmation, but Arne Slot's side is optimistic and an agreement can be reached.

Other rumors from Italian media, notably Matteo Moretto, also suggest that Milan tried to sign another right back, but hasn't come close to agreeing on the fee. The probable name could be Atletico Madrid's Nahuel Molina or Sevilla's Juanlu. So far, there are no openings, but things can always change on the final day of the transfer window.

Another sector that fans should pay attention to would be the center forward position, as Milan reportedly still tries to satisfy Massimiliano Allegri's wish. The coach is said to be looking for a more physical center forward who can be a threat in the box and solid in hold-up play. A skillset that Santiago Gimenez hasn't managed to show so far with Milan.

The hottest name would still be AS Roma's Artem Dovbyk, though the previous report of a potential swap with Gimenez remains unlikely. Milan could still get the Ukrainian international without a swap deal, but Giallorossi would need to find a replacement.

Dusan Vlahovic looks unlike, especially since his positive start to this season, but with Juve continuing to look for another striker, a late move might still be on the cards. There could also be other names that might suddenly be available on deadline day, but Milan needs to move fast if they want to secure another striker.

Transfer Outs/Departures

As for the departures, there will also be several names that are set to officially depart from Milanello this summer, such as. Alex Jimenez should be heading to Bournemouth in a loan deal with an option that could turn into an obligation related to appearances. Other similar deals should also happen for Yunus Musah to Atalanta, and Samuel Chukwueze, who is heading to Fulham.

Aside from those two names, Milan are also hoping that Yacine Adli and Ismael Bennacer will decide on their future clubs before deadline day. Both players are out of the club's plan and have received some interest, but have yet to agree on any of the options.

Nevertheless, with the transfer window set to close on September 1 at 2 p.m. ET, there's an expectation that Adli and Bennacer will finally decide on which teams they are set to play this season. The Rossoneri might be ready to accommodate interested clubs with much simpler terms just so that no complication occurs on the deadline date.

Milanello-Corner will give you the latest updates for all the transfer moves, so keep on checking this page.

Lecce v Milan Match Preview: Jashari Out, Leao Still Absent

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:30:00 +0000

AC Milan will still be without their star striker, Rafael Leao, for their weekend Serie A clash against Lecce on Friday, as Massimiliano Allegri doesn't want to risk the Portuguese international. Aside from Leao, Milan will also miss their summer signing, Ardon Jashari, who picked up an injury during the Rossoneri's latest training session.

Milan Without Leao and Jashari Against Lecce

The Rossoneri are targeting maximum points on Friday, following their disappointing home defeat against Cremonese last weekend. However, Milan will go to Via del Mare without the presence of important names, notably Leao, who is still recovering from his calf injury, and Jashari.

The Portuguese international is still not 100% fit yet after picking up a calf injury during Milan's Coppa Italia clash against Bari two weeks ago. Milan's boss, Allegr,i is not risking Leao and hoping that the attacker will be ready to go after the upcoming international break.

As for Jashari, the Swiss international was actually tipped to start against Lecce, but unfortunately, he won't be available for that match. According to Allegri, the 23-year-old will be out because he picked up an injury during Milan's morning training session this Thursday.

The tactician revealed that Jashari suffered a knock after clashing with Santiago Gimenez during their latest session. There's no official confirmation yet regarding the severity of his injury, but he will definitely miss next Friday's clash.

According to a report from Italian media (via Milannews), there's a concern that Jashari could suffer a fracture fibula, but there's no official statement just yet. The international break could be a blessing for Milan and the midfielder, as he will have time to recover without missing out on more matches. Certainly, the Rossoneri are hoping that their summer signing won't be out for too long because of the injury.

AC Milan's probable line-up vs Lecce:

Milan (4-3-3): Maignan(g); De Winter, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Estupinan; Modric, Ricci, Fofana; Saelemaekers, Gimenez, Pulisic.

Analyzing Milan's Shocking Defeat Against Cremonese

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Sat, 23 Aug 2025 22:06:00 +0000

AC Milan suffered a shocking 2-1 home defeat against newly promoted side Cremonese, in a rather odd game where the opponent simply got all the fortune in front of goal. The Rossoneri were guilty of small lapses in the back, while up front, they can't seem to get anything right, especially their finishing in the final third.

Defense Breakdown

The 2-1 loss against Cremonese can be considered as one of those games where the opponent didn't do much but somehow got a maximum result. They barely created anything significant going forward as Davide Nicola's side only made four shots in total, and two of them somehow resulted in goals.

It's difficult to fully judge the defense as overall they did minimize their opponent's attack quite well, but in the moment of goals, there were some errors that got punished heavily. On the first goal from Baschirotto, there was a lapse of concentration, particularly from Stahinja Pavlovic, who was late in spotting the Cremonese big defender who was lumbering forward to head the goal.

Gabbia was occupied by another player, while Pavlovic seemed distracted and didn't expect Baschirotto to make that forward run. The Serbian also made an error earlier where he missed his clearance and almost ended up in a goal, but Mike Maignan saved it.

For the second goal, it was a spectacular half-volley that Bonazzoli would be unlikely to score again this season. Alex Jimenez was held up by a player, but there was no other center-half that got close enough to the Cremonese striker for some reason, allowing him to just make that volley attempt. Youssuf Fofana could've been more alert in closing the space, but he probably didn't expect that situation to happen.

Maignan might be able to react better, but again, it was one of those goals that shouldn't have happened if there were no lapses in concentration. Creating that habit of focusing will be the main job that Massimiliano Allegri and his staff need to do in the upcoming games.

Replacing Estupinan with Jimenez certainly carries a risk, as the latter is probably stronger physically to cope with aerial duels or anticipate crosses on his side. However, from the replay, it was clear that the young Spaniard was being hassled by another Cremonese player, thus allowing Bonazzoli to get enough time and space to make his attempt. There should be more awareness at the back to cover the space and the opponent.

Again, it was difficult to complain about the defensive organization as the goals did come from defensive lapses, but it was just a couple of errors that got punished heavily. Meanwhile, on the other end, Milan struggles to take any advantage from some of Cremonese's mistakes at the back.

Midfield Structure and Performance

In midfield, the defensive and attacking build-up looks fine with Modric setting up the tempo and tone for around 60 to 70 minutes. Jashari also did well, as a sub, as he offers more physicality, it looks like the Croatian can't be playing full 90 minutes at the moment, so the substitution was probably a necessary one.

Fofana did well in transition as well and didn't lose the ball too much either; however, once again, his finishing and shooting were woeful. He probably had the most shooting attempts and opportunities among all the other midfielders, but the Frenchman can't seem to get things right.

Defensively, Fofana was okay, apart from maybe he could've been more alert in Cremonese's second goal in covering for Bonazzoli. Still, the Frenchman's main issue for now is his involvement in the final third. Aside from working on his finishing, he also needs to play it simple at times when he gets near the opponent's penalty box.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek had another mixed bag, just like Fofana; his finishing in the final third was really poor. He needs to be more decisive and ruthless when he gets the ball inside the penalty area and not overthink everything. Loftus-Cheek also needs to get more involved in the attacking build-up more, especially if Tomori is playing in the right back role.

In the first half, Alexis Saelemaekers was often forced too wide and wasn't able to move the ball quickly because there weren't many options for him to work with at times. RLC did improve on his build-up involvement in the second half, but his work in the final third still left wanting.

Allegri's decision not to start Ricci was probably a mistake in this game, as Cremonese was not much of a threat in the middle of the park. Milan had more than enough ability to control the midfield and only conceded from random crosses, which saw them having defensive lapses, most likely because they were not focused enough at the back.

The physicality from Loftus-Cheek and Fofana was probably not needed in that game, as Ricci, with one of Jashari and Modric, could probably put in the midfield three instead. Milan also didn't get enough free kicks in that game, which can put more pressure on the opponent's back line.

Allegri should definitely consider starting at least two of Ricci, Modric, and Jashari together from the start. After that, one of Loftus-Cheek or Fofana could be played as an alternative in the second half to give that physical presence. At this moment, Ricci is probably better in terms of covering and organizing Milan's defensive setup, although again, Modric didn't have a bad game in that regard.

In all, the midfield could probably add more creativity by starting at least two of Ricci, Modric, and Jashari on the pitch. One of the reasons, obviously, is because of the absence of Rafael Leao, who could always provide an offensive break at times for the Rossoneri.

Attacking Setup

The attack was definitely lacking, but not in the buildup up as Pulisic and Saelemaekers did reasonably well in terms of creating and setting up the offense. However, Santiago Gimenez once again struggled to get into a better position, and his hold-up play was also poor in that game.

Without Leao, Gimenez needs to make a better presence inside the area, to at least free up Pulisic and Saelemaekers even more. The American international had a couple of opportunities which he could've done better, but he certainly needed more help to get that space that he would often get if Leao was available, or in the past, even with someone like Olivier Giroud on top.

The Mexican didn't even need to be more physical and battle; he just needed to be smarter, especially in his movement, as he was facing a much slower player in Baschirotto. In the first half, both Pulisic and Saelemaekers didn't get into the box too often, but that did improve after the break. The American international was probably not at his sharpest yet, so he definitely can still improve on his form.

Another issue with Milan's attack against Cremonese is that they didn't seem to have the conviction in front of the goal. Aside from the poor finishing at times, there were many occasions when they hesitated too much when they were already entering the opponent's box.

Milan players need to be more precise in the final third, whether it's on their final pass or finishing. They need to shoot more when there's a space inside the penalty area and certainly get those shots on goal. There were just way too many wayward shots against an opponent who barely threatened them in the whole game. They definitely need that physical addition inside the penalty area, and that's what Allegri was expecting from Fofana and Loftus-Cheek, but unfortunately, those two didn't have their shooting boots on.

Overall, it was not a game where Milan suffered defensively or struggled in the midfield area. However, they were definitely struggling in the final third, as Allegri's expectation that Fofana and RLC could offer that extra physical presence didn't result in a positive result up front.

The coach should definitely reconsider setting up the midfield with two physical presences for now, unless Fofana and Loftus-Cheek suddenly can become much sharper. Against a more defensive side, it's probably best to focus on adding more creative outlets by allowing Modric to push further up by playing as Mezzalla and playing Ricci as the holding midfielder.

Allegri should also consider the new signings like Athekame or even De Winter playing as right back to maybe provide something better offensively instead of Tomori. In all, it was a bad game in terms of result and technical battle, but Milan still dominated and probably got things okay tactically. Unfortunately, defensive lapses and poor execution up front cost them dearly.

There's plenty of time to work and improve things; however, the warning signs are already there for Allegri's men. They won't have easy games, so they must battle hard while also taking advantage of their technical qualities more.

Conclusion

In terms of statistics and initial game plan, Milan probably shouldn't be too worried about their opening-day defeat, but they definitely need to improve their defensive focus and avoid lapses, especially when anticipating crosses. As for the midfield, adding more creativity is certainly an option that Allegri should seriously consider going forward.

Another addition that Massimiliano Allegri also added, aside from improving their defensive focus, is getting more aggressive without the ball. The coach also wants his players to be more alert, aggressive, and acknowledge any potential danger, and not get caught in having lapses again when they don't have the ball.

The attack could also depend on potential additions in the transfer market, but Rafael Leao's return will also help. As for Gimenez, he would need to improve his fitness level, which hopefully can help him move better on and off the ball in the upcoming matches. Milan definitely needs another option up front, especially in this type of game, where a more physical threat inside the area can help them a lot.

AC Milan 1-2 Cremonese (Pavlovic 45+1; Baschirotto 28, Bonazzoli 61)

Match Statistics

Statistic	AC Milan	Cremonese
Possession	64%	36%
Total Shots	24	4
Shots on Target	6	3
Shots Inside Box	16	4
Touches Inside Opponent's Box	51	5

Milan v Cremonese Match Preview: Modric to Start?

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Sat, 23 Aug 2025 11:59:00 +0000

AC Milan are ready to kick start their new Serie A season this weekend as they host newly promoted side, Cremonese at San Siro. Massimiliano Allegri is reportedly ready to start Luka Modric ahead of Samuele Ricci for this Saturday clash, with Rafael Leao out due to injury.

Milan to Start Modric in League Opener

The Rossoneri will be starting their season in a packed San Siro as tickets for that game has reportedly been selling really well. Keen on starting on the front foot, Allegri will try to put out his best possible setup for this weekend, which includes playing Modric from the start.

Although the Croatian international arrived a bit later in preseason, his condition seems to be improving and Italian media suggest that he will be starting ahead of Ricci. Modric's experience and creative playing style seems to be preferred by Allegri for this weekend match.

Considering Leao's absence because of a calf injury, the Rossoneri might be looking to add more creativity from the midfield, so that's why the Croatian is preferred to start. Meanwhile, the decision to put Ricci on the bench, might be because for now Allegri wants him and Modric alternate with each other until the former Real Madrid star is in the best shape.

For now, the Rossoneri boss seems keen on playing one of Ricci and Modric with two more physical and dynamic players such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Youssouf Fofana. Ardon Jashari is also in consideration but just like Modric, the Swiss international arrived later in preseason so he's condition is still not too sharp.

Milan to Count On Pulisic, Gimenez, Saelemaekers Up Front

Following the absence of Leao for this weekend tie, Allegri is set to count on Santiago Gimenez, Christian Pulisic, and Alexis Saelemaekers trio up front. At times, Pulisic and Gimenez would probably play like a striker duet, with Saelemaekers acting as a player who provide more balance, especially ini transition or when Milan don't have the ball in possession.

Of course, losing Leao is a big miss for the Rossoneri, but the return of Saelemaekers and Allegri's setup should still give Milan more than enough fire power going forward. Aside from the midfield and offense, the tactician will be expecting his defense can put on a solid and focus display, something that they often struggle to do last season.

Here is Milan's probable line up against Cremonese:

AC Milan (4-3-3):

Maignan(g), Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Estupinan; Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Fofana; Saelemaekers, Gimenez, Pulisic.

Milan Not Planning to Replace Noah Okafor

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 10:37:00 +0000

AC Milan are set to part ways with Noah Okafor, with reports stating that he is close to joining newly promoted Premier League side Leeds United. Despite losing another option upfront, it looks like the Rossoneri are not planning to sign a direct replacement for the Swiss international

Okafor Set to Join Leeds United

After a rather positive preseason performance, Okafor isn't going to remain as part of Massimiliano Allegri's squad for this season. According to multiple media reports(via Milannews), the Swiss international is on his way to join Leeds for around 20-21 million euros.

Although rumors about Okafor's future have been circulating since the start of the preseason, Milan appears to be open to keeping him following a positive start to the preseason. However, it looks like the situation has changed, as after a strong interest from Leeds, both the player and Rossoneri are open to the move.

The former RB Salzburg player has been allowed to take his medical before eventually signing the contract with Leeds. The Premier League outfit will hope that everything can be concluded in the next few days.

Milan Not Planning to Sign a Replacement for Okafor

Although there was a plan to keep him this summer, selling the 25-year-old attacker isn't something that will force the Rossoneri to look for a replacement. Reports in Italy suggest that Milan are not planning to sign a replacement for Okafor in the transfer window.

The reasoning behind it is mostly because they already have players who can cover for the Swiss international role. Okafor was initially being plotted as an alternative to Rafael Leao as a striker or left winger.

Following the return of Alexis Saelemaekers, it looks like Allegri got that position covered, not to mention that Christian Pulisic, and youngster, Alex Jimenez can also fill that position. That's the main tactical reasoning why Milan's management won't be looking to replace Okafor.

The Rossoneri's management's main plan is to search for a new center forward, so with or without the 25-year-old attacker on the roster, that idea isn't going to change. According to reports, Milan will only look for a new winger/wide attacker if Samuel Chukwueze also leaves the club before the transfer window closes.

However, for now, Okafor's departure won't mean that Milan will look to replace him immediately as they're focus is on getting a new attacker. Any addition to the wing department can only happen if Chukwueze departs from Milanello, which is a possibility, but nothing concrete just yet.

Milan to Sign De Winter as Thiaw Replacement

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 10:12:00 +0000

AC Milan are reportedly close to securing the signature of Koni De Winter as their new defender, replacing the outgoing Malick Thiaw. The Rossoneri are moving quickly to sign De Winter from Genoa, with negotiations happening as soon as they agree terms for Thiaw's sale to Newcastle United.

Milan Pick De Winter as Thiaw's Replacement

Massimiliano Allegri's men saw themselves picking up a 4-1 thumping against Chelsea in their last preseason friendly ahead of the new season. One of the main reasons for that heavy defeat, aside from playing with 10 men after just 19 minutes of play, was also because of the lack of a senior center-back starting with Malick Thiaw set to join Newcastle United.

Having played several players on Saturday against Leeds, Allegri's initial plan was to play with a different lineup in defence versus Chelsea. Young defender, Andrea Coubis, had a nightmare after scoring an own goal and got himself sent off in less than 20 minutes of play.

Judging from that game, they certainly need to make a quick move for a new defender; that's why grabbing De Winter was a priority. Being a young defender in Serie A, the Genoa player has already had enough experience in the league.

Why Signing De Winter a Reasonable Option for Milan

Although the media and some fans might push Milan to go for the currently hyped youngsters, such as Giovanni Leoni from Parma or Fiorentina's Pietro Comuzzo, De Winter has more experience already. The 22-year-old has played 68 games so far in Serie A, while Comuzzo played 37 matches, and Leoni only played 17 times in the top-flight football.

Aside from experience, of course, the asking prices that both Parma and Fiorentina asked are much higher than Milan's current valuation of both Leoni and Comuzzo. Seeing how they spent so much time with Ardon Jashari's signing, the Rossoneri doesn't want to take too much time to give Max Allegri an important reinforcement at the back.

Moreover, De Winter is also someone whom Allegri knows quite well during the tactician's time at Juventus. So, the coach at least already has basic knowledge of the player's strengths and weaknesses ahead of the new season.

According to rumours, Milan are set to sign De Winter for a package worth 20 million euros from Genoa. There's already a verbal agreement between both clubs, with some small details needing sorting out before the Belgian international gets the clearance to do his medical and eventually contract signing.

Milan v Leeds 1-1: Jashari Positive Debut, Gimenez Scored

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 16:50:00 +0000

AC Milan's Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez got back on the scoresheet as the Rossoneri picked up a 1-1 draw in their latest preseason friendly against Leeds United. Aside from Gimenez's goal, the game also marked Ardon Jashari's debut as the Rossoneri's new player, but Luka Modric remains on the bench.

Milan Held by Leeds as Jashari Impresses and Gimenez Scored

The Rossoneri continue their preperataion ahead of the new season with another intriguing friendly against newly promoted Premer League outfit, Leeds. Milan got themselves ahead in the first 45 minutes through Santiago Gimenez's goal, but the EPL side equalized after the break with an effort from Anton Stach.

Massimiliano Allegri started an unusual starting lineup, giving chances for some young players from the start with Vittorio Magni and Emanuele Sala. However, the interesting part was the debut of one of Milan's new signing, Ardon Jashari.

The Swiss international put on a solid display for someone who hasn't had many training session yet with the team. His performance cetainly brings out plenty of positive vibe from the Rossoneri fans who can expect Milan to have a much stronger midfield setup next season.

Overall, it's a positive test, as it gives players plenty of minutes, including the young players who gets a taste of competitive football. Allegri rested the likes of Rafael Leao and Luka Modric, while only giving little minutes for Samuele Ricci, Alexis Saelemaekers and even Jashari didn't get more than 60 minutes.

It's understandable as Milan will play another friendly tomorrow against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, so, they will need a fresh lineup. There's also unfortunate situation with Christian Pulisic and Alex Jimenez recovering from injuries.

Milan's line up vs Leeds:

P. Terracciano(Torriani)(g); Magni(F. Terracciano), Gabbia, Pavlovic(Thiaw), Estupinian; Musah(Coubis), Sala(Ricci), Jashari(Eletu); Chukwueze(Saelemaekers), Gimenez(Sia), Okafor.

Milan Probable Formation vs Leeds: Jashari and Gimenez to Start, Pulisic, Jimenez Out

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 09:25:00 +0000

AC Milan are set to take on Leeds United this Saturday for another preseason friendly, and Massimiliano Allegri could introduce one of his new signings, Ardon Jashari. Milan's Mexican striker, Santiago Gimenez, is also tipped to play from the start, but Christian Pulisic and Alex Jimenez won't be available due to injury.

Jashari to Start Against Leeds

The Rossoneri's preseason continues as they gear up for a new season under Massimiliano Allegri's guidance. This Saturday, Milan will face newly promoted side, Leeds United in Dublin before taking on Chelsea the next day.

Playing two matches in a row, Allegri will mostly rotate his squad heavily, especially since they don't have a fully complete squad because of the transfer market. For the Saturday game against Leeds, Gazzetta.it and Milannews.it are confident that Milan's new signing, Ardon Jashari, will play from the start, along with their Mexican attacker, Santi Gimenez.

For both players, the game will be their first preseason match for the Rossoneri, as Jashari has just arrived, while Gimenez got an extra break due to Mexico's participation in the Gold Cup. Unfortunately, there are some notable absences in Christian Pulisic and Alex Jimenez, who are recovering from their injuries. Aside from this Saturday's clash, both Pulisic and Jimenez will also miss out on Milan's match against Chelsea.

Here is the possible lineup for Milan against Leeds United:

Milan (4-3-3): P. Terracciano(g); Magni, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Estupinian; Musah, Sala, Jashari; Chukwueze, Gimenez, Okafor.

Leeds (4-3-3): Meslier(g); Schmidt, Rodon, Bijol, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Longstaff, Stach; Gnonto, Piroe, Aaronson.

Pulisic to Miss AC Milan's Final Two Preseason Matches

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 15:16:00 +0000

Christian Pulisic will reportedly miss AC Milan's upcoming two preseason friendlies, against Leeds United on Saturday and Chelsea on Sunday. The USMNT star is currently recovering from an ankle injury he picked up during the Rossoneri's latest preseason match against Liverpool.

Pulisic Out of Milan's Final Preseason Games

The American international has been a key figure for the Red and Black squad ever since signing from Chelsea back in 2023. Pulisic has also been showing positive performance so far during preseason under Massimiliano Allegri's command.

Aside from Leao, Pulisic has also been one of the club's fans' favourite, notably because of his consistent performances during the last two seasons. However, in Milan's upcoming friendly matches, fans won't be able to watch him in action as he won't be there.

According to a report from Sky Italia (via Milannews), Pulisic won't be flying with his teammates to their upcoming games against Leeds United (Saturday) and Chelsea (Sunday). The player is currently still recovering from an ankle injury he picked up during Milan's friendly fixture against Liverpool.

Pulisic's recovery process is going well, but Milan are not keen on taking any risk and prefers to let the 26-year-old rest and continue his recovery. Aside from the American international, Warren Bondo will also miss the Rossoneri's final two friendlies due to the transfer situation.

Bondo is reportedly close to a loan move to Cremoese for this season for regular playing time, which he is unlikely to get at Milan this upcoming season. Another absentee would be Alex Jimenez who apparently not fit to feature in the upcoming two friendlies. Meanwhile, the Rossoneri's last two arrivals, Luka Modric and Ardon Jashari, will both be available for their upcoming friendly matches.

Here is the official list of Milan's called up players for the match against Leeds and Chelsea:

Keeper: Maignan, Pittarella, P. Terracciano, Torriani

Defenders: Magni, F.Terracciano, Estupinan, Bartesaghi, Coubis, Dutu, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Thiaw, Tomori.

Midfielders: Eletu, Fofana, Jashari, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Musah, Ricci, Sala

Attackers: Gimenez, Chukwueze, Okafor, Leao Saelemaekers, Sia.

Milan Ponder Between Vlahovic and Hojlund

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 06:42:00 +0000

AC Milan's search for a new striker reportedly led them to consider two targets, Dusan Vlahovic and Rasmus Hojlund. The Rossoneri are in talks with both players' representatives and are still deciding on which option would be best for them this season.

Milan in Talks With Both Vlahovic and Hojlund

The Rossoneri's transfer moves are far from over this summer as they still have some targets they are keen on acquiring. In terms of position, Milan have been adamant in stating that they will try to sign at least one more striker this summer, as they want a competition or partner for Santiago Gimenez up front.

Among the potential candidates, multiple reports suggested that it's currently down to two main targets, Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic and Manchester United's attacker, Rasmus Hojlund. Those two players seemingly suit what Milan are looking for, which is a centre forward who can play inside the box and hold up the ball quite well.

However, acquiring one of Vlahovic and Hojlund remains a tricky situation for Milan for different reasons. The Juve striker is available for sale as his contract is running out and the Bianconeri doesn't want to lose him for free next summer. Meanwhile, Hojlund has also been made available by United following the club's success in signing Benjamin Sesko.

Milan Looking for Clarity Regarding Vlahovic's Transfer Fee

Although Juventus are open to letting the Serbian international leave this summer, they are still asking a fee that Milan feels is too steep. The Bianconeri reportedly want around 20 to 25 million euros for Vlahovic, while the Rossoneri won't go that far in terms of paying a transfer fee, due to his contract situation.

There's also a situation about Vlahovic's high salary, but reports claim that the striker would be open to reducing it in favour of Milan. The ex-Fiorentina man is also keen on reuniting with his former coach, Massimiliano Allegri, this summer.

Hojlund Still Hoping to Stay at Man United

As for the Danish international, United are now ready to part ways with him following the imminent arrival of Sesko. The Red Devils are also reportedly open to letting him join Milan for a paid loan and option to buy for around 30 million euros.

However, at the moment, multiple reports, including from Fabrizio Romano, stated that Hojlund is still keen on staying at Old Trafford. He is determined to compete for his place and is not afraid to battle it out with Sesko or Joshua Zirkzee for a starting spot. Still, United might try to persuade him as they do need to let some players leave in this summer transfer window.

At the moment, it looks like Milan's choice for that new centre forward will be between Vlahovic and Sesko. So which one would the Rossoneri eventually pick?

AC Milan Looking to Complete Young Defender Deal Before the Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:41:00 +0000

AC Milan are hoping to complete the signing of Young Boys' starlet Zachary Athekame before the weekend. After securing the signing of Ardon Jashari, the Rossoneri are looking to add Athekame into the squad as soon as possible.

Milan Hoping to Complete Athekame Signing

The Rossoneri are not slowing down their market moves just yet, as after completing Jashari's signing, Allegri's side are now pushing to get a new right back. After deciding to step away from Guela Doue, Milan now set their focus on Young Boys' defender, Zachary Athekame.

Allegri has reportedly approved Athekame's profile, believing that the 20-year-old has the tools to be an important player for his squad. Milan have reportedly submitted their second bid of around 8 to 9 million euros, and expects an agreement can be struck before this weekend.

According to the latest media report (via Milannews), Athekame could discuss his move to Milan with his current club's president. The Rossoneri will hope that the deal can be finalised before their upcoming double friendly matches on Saturday (against Leeds United) and Sunday (against Chelsea).

Official: Milan Complete Jashari Signing

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:49:00 +0000

AC Milan have officially announced the signing of Ardon Jashari from Club Brugge this Wednesday. The player has signed a five-year contract with the Rossoneri, committing his future with Massimiliano Allegri's side until June 30, 2025.

Milan Announced Jashari Signing

The Rossoneri's long and winding transfer saga to capture one of their main targets in midfield, Ardon Jashari, has finally ended this Wednesday. Milan have officially announced the Swiss international's signing, who has committed himself to the Red and Black squad until June 30, 2030.

Just as we mentioned earlier, the 23-year-old will be wearing the number 30 jersey, which was the shirt he has been wearing during his time with Brugge. Milan reportedly secured Jashari's signing for a fee worth about 39 million euros (including bonuses).

Massimiliano Allegri's side had to work hard before they could finally reach an agreement with Club Brugge for Jashari's sale. Despite a long and tough negotiation, the player's strong will to join the Rossoneri eventually came through as he is now set to be part of Milan's squad for this upcoming season.

Allegri Wants Milan to Keep Thiaw Amid Newcastle Intererst

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:22:00 +0000

AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri has reportedly preferred the club to keep their young defender Malik Thiaw amid interest from several clubs, including Newcastle United. The Premier League side have been rumoured to submit a bid worth 30 million euros, but the Rossoneri decided to reject it.

Allegri Keen on Keeping Thiaw at Milan

The German international has been rumoured to be leaving the club this summer, but it looks like he could be staying put. Thiaw was targeted by Como earlier in the transfer window, but he rejected the approach despite there's an agreement between clubs.

Despite continuous rumours, Thiaw continues to work well in the training session under Massimiliano Allegri's tutelage. The German international apparently has worked well so far in the preseason, leaving the head coach pleasantly happy with the young defender's work.

Satisfied with what he has seen so far, according to transfer expert Matteo Moretto, Allegri is keen on keeping Thiaw at Milan this season. The tactician believes that the former Schalke man will be an important figure for the club's defence.

Milan Will Only Consider a Big Offer for Thiaw Sale

Although the Rossoneri are heading into keeping Thiaw at the club, they are not completely shutting down any proposal. However, it will take a massive proposal of around at least 40 to 45 million euros for Milan to consider parting ways with the German international.

Aside from Newcastle and Como, Thiaw has reportedly attracted interest from Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen. However, it's unlikely that those clubs are willing to spend the amount that Milan are asking for.

Jashari set to Sign for AC Milan, to Wear Number 30

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 10:33:00 +0000

The two-month-long transfer saga of Ardon Jashari, involving AC Milan and Club Brugge finally set to end following an agreement between both clubs. The midfielder is scheduled to sign his contract later today and has reportedly chosen the number 30 for the Rossoneri.

Ardon Jashari to Sign for Milan After Medical

The Swiss is finally close to signing for the Rossoneri as he is scheduled to sign his contract after completing the medical later today. The player will be joining his team's training session once he has completed the contract signing, which most likely be on Thursday.

Despite taking a while, Jashari's imminent arrival brings a sigh of relief for Milan as they get the midfield player they've been targeting since June. After such a long and winding negotiation, the player's persistence finally came through as Brugge agreed a deal worth 39 million euros (including bonuses) for the 23-year-old.

Jashari to Wear Number 30

Ahead of his contract signing and official announcement, reports in Italy also stated that the Swiss international has chosen the number 30 at Milan. That number is the one he has been wearing during his time with Brugge.

The Rossoneri fans will certainly hope that their new signing can continue his positive trajectory at the club. Although Milan have a rather disappointing experience with another former Brugge signing in Charles De Ketelaere, Jashari could carve a different path.

Unlike the Belgian international, Jashari seems to have a different character, but more than that, tactically, his profile is what Allegri needs in midfield. One of the main issues with De Ketelaere was that his profile was not what Stefano Pioli wanted at his Milan side back then.

Jashari Insists on Dream Milan Move Amid Club Brugge UCL Call-up

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 06:33:00 +0000

Ardon Jashari remains determined to make his move to AC Milan a reality this summer despite strong resistance from his team, Club Brugge. According to Sky Italia, the midfielder still insists on leaving his current club amid being called up for the Belgium side's Champions League playoff matches.

Jashari Insists on Milan Move Despite UCL Call-up from Brugge

The Swiss international has made his intention clear ever since there's an official interest from the Rossoneri. Jashari is keen on joining Milan this summer and has rejected several approaches from other clubs, including Premier League teams.

However, the 22-year-old's dream of joining the Rossoneri is facing a rather odd resistance from Brugge, who keeps on stalling things. Multiple reports suggest that the Belgium outfit still wants more money from Milan's latest offer, worth 38 million euros (including bonuses).

The player has been training alone for a couple of weeks now, waiting for his transfer to materialise, but things get interesting with Brugge suddenly calling him for their upcoming UCL playoffs ties against RB Salzburg. The Belgium outfit's Champions League hope will depend on those two ties against Salzburg, so they want to bring all of their best talents.

Brugge's decision to call up Jashari creates a buzz since they did left Jashari out of their previous two league matches. Moreover, the player has reportedly refused to play again for the club as he continues to push for a Milan move.

Why Jashari Continues to Push for Milan Move?

The player's strong stance on not playing for the club also raises some questions from the football community. However, according to Sky Italia's Manuele Baiocchini(via Milannews), Jashari's decision to resist Brugge is not without any reason.

Ahead of this summer, the Belgium outfit reportedly had promised Jashari and his representatives that he could leave for a fee of 32.5 million euros. That number has already been met by Milan, and they even raised their offer by one million euros.

For that reason, the player has requested a meeting with his club's president, asking that his move be authorized. Milan's latest offer was reportedly around 33.5 million euros fixed fee with an additional five million euros in bonuses. Meanwhile, Brugge raised their request to 40 million in total (at least 35 million fixed fee).

The Rossoneri themselves are planning to hold an internal meeting to figure out their next plan regarding Jashari transfer. Some people in the management believe they have made the best offer, while others think they should push a bit more to convince Brugge.

Although the situation seems a bit chaotic, the player's camp is said to remain confident that a move to Milan will eventually happen. There's also a potential scenario that Brugge will finally let Jashari go after he helps them in their upcoming UCL playoffs tie.

A transfer saga that seems exhausting for Milan fans, but there's still a potential of a happy ending on the horizon.

Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic Wants Milan Move

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 17:09:00 +0000

Juventus' wantaway striker, Dusan Vlahovic, has reportedly prioritized AC Milan as his preferred destination. The Serbian international is keen on reuniting with his former tactician, Massimiliano Allegri for the upcoming season.

Vlahovic Prefers Milan Move

The Serbian international has one year left on his contract and is unlikely to extend his stay with the Turin giant. The Bianconeri themselves share a similar sentiment as they also prefer to part ways with the striker this summer.

Juve reportedly are ready to sell Vlahovic for 20 million euros, but there haven't been any offers that suits them. The situation seems to be getting a bit more complicated following the latest news stating that the ex-Fiorentina attacker is preferring a move to Milan instead of other destination.

As reported by Alfredo Pedulla, at the moment, Vlahovic's two options would be to remain at Juve or joining the Rossoneri. Milan themselves are also open to sign the Serbian, but they are unlikely to spent 20 million for the attacker.

However, Pedulla believes that there's a deal could very well happen with a fee around 15 million euros. There have been discussion between both teams' representatives, but no official offers have been made for the time being.

Milan are reportedly still focusing on other signings, especially in midfield and right back before they make a move for the attacking position. Nevertheless, things might change, if Juve are open to lower their asking price to the price that the Rossoneri consider acceptable.

Would Vlahovic Suits Milan's Need?

Seeing that Juve are keen on letting the Serbian leave and most fans seem also eager to part ways with him, there's certainly questions among Milan fans on Vlahovic. However, despite hasn't really live up to his 80 million euros transfer fee from Fiorentina to the Bianconeri, the striker hasn't been a total bum for them.

Since joining them, Vlahovic has been grabbing double digit goals for the Old Lady, which isn't too bad of a record. Moreover, in Milan he would potentially receive less attention and pressure as he will play with top offensive talents such as Rafael Leao, and Christian Pulisic.

The Rossoneri also still has Santiago Gimenez, who can share the goal scoring burden with Vlahovic next season. If they can get him for 20 million euros or less, getting the Serbian would be an interesting attacking move indeed for Milan.

Milan v Torino Serie A Match Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 14:47:00 +0000

AC Milan are eyeing to get their first home win for the new season following their 2-0 away victory over Bologna in their Serie A opener. Stefano Pioli's men will be facing a tricky encounter though as they face Torino at the San Siro this Saturday.

Ivan Juric's men have become a rather tricky opponent for the Rossoneri in the past two seasons, though Milan remain the favourite in taking all three points. Pioli will most likely play the same starting 11 that started against Bologna last Monday.

Mike Maignan remains the number-one choice in goal with Davide Calabria, Malick Thiaw, Fikayo Tomori, and Theo Hernandez forming the defensive quartet. In midfield, Rade Krunic should still start with two summer signings, Tijjani Reinjders, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Meanwhile, for the frontline, Pioli will be counting on Rafael Leao, Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao again as starters.

Unless there's a last-minute situation, those 11 names will be starting in Milan's first home game for this season. Aside from the starting eleven, Pioli can also count on other quality names from the bench with the likes of Samuel Chukueze, Tomasso Pobega, and Noah Okafor being the most likely names who can get some minutes. Other potential substitutions will depend on the match situation, but Pierre Kalulu, Simon Kjaer, Lorenzo Colombo, Luka Romero or even Yacine Adli might get a shout.

Torino will certainly try to make life difficult for Milan with Juric's man-to-man and pressing setup. The Granata are going to count on Vlasic as the attacking midfielder behind Sanabria up front. The Rossoneri are hoping that their new guns can provide enough weapons to take down their opponent this weekend.

Milan v Torino Probable Lineups

Milan (4-3-3): Maignan(g); Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Krunic, Reinjders; Pulisic, Giroud, Leao

Milan Transfer Update 2023: Rebic Set to Depart as Musah's Arrival Edge Closer

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 12:20:00 +0000

AC Milan are close to seeing their Croatian striker, Ante Rebic leave the club this summer with reports linking him with Besiktas. Meanwhile, once Rebic's move is confirmed, the Rossoneri will reportedly grab another signing, which will be the American international midfielder, Yunus Musah.

Rebic to Sign With Besiktas This Weekend

Rebic's future with Milan have been in jeopardy since the start of this summer as his relationship with head coach Stefano Pioli at the end of last season. The former Fiorentina attacker was left out of the Rossoneri's current USA tour as he's not part of the club's plan anymore for next season.

However, parting ways with Rebic was not an easy task as he reportedly refused an offer from the Saudi Arabia team before finally agreeing on terms with Besiktas. Milan are set to receive a package of 2m Euro for the striker, who was bought in an exchange with Andre Silva a few seasons ago. Despite his disappointing form last season, Rebic was a crucial figure in the Rossoneri's recent rise in form under Pioli's tenure. However, injury has pretty much troubled him in the past two seasons.

The 29-year-old was naturally picked as the starter in Milan's front line ahead of Rafael Leao during the pandemic year. However, Rebic gradually loses his starting spot because of his constant injury problems and Leao's rise to prominence. Although his departure is inevitable, the Red and Black fans still have plenty of fond memories of the Croatian international, who will try to rejuvenate his career at Besiktas.

Milan Will Also Secure Musah's Signature Next Week

Rebic's departure is set to open the door for another new arrival at Milanello as USMNT's midfielder, Yunus Musah will be signing with Pioli's squad soon. After a rather difficult negotiation, Valencia reportedly agreed to sell the 20-year-old midfielder for a fee of around 18-20m Euro.

Munah has been reported as one of the midfield signings that Milan are keen on snatching since the start of this transfer window. Despite his young age, it looks like Pioli's since is confident that the midfielder has the right profile to be part of their squad this upcoming season.

Although some fans believe that Milan needs a more defensive-minded midfielder, it looks like the club are heading more into acquiring versatility in that department. Musah is indeed another versatile midfielder, who is supposedly capable of playing multiple roles in the center of the park.

Pioli seems keen on developing a more fluid midfield setup that combines technique and physicality along with tactical flexibility. Unfortunately, similar to their latest signing, Samuel Chuckwueze, Musah won't be available for Milan's current U.S. tour and will only train with the squad once they return from the States.

Pulisic Admits Pioli's Importance in Milan Move from Chelsea

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 07:49:00 +0000

Christian Pulisic admits that Stefano Pioli plays an important part in the attacker's decision to join AC Milan in this summer transfer window. The USMNT star signed for the Rossoneri from Chelsea and is looking forward to having a much better adventure at his new club.

Pulisic Reveals Stefano Pioli's Importance in Milan Move

The 24-year-old was unveiled as Milan's new player on July 14, signing on a four-year deal until 2027 with an option to extend it for another season. Speaking more about his move to the fashion city, Pulisic reveals that his continuous talks with head coach, Pioli is a major key for that deal to eventually materialize.

In an interview with the media ahead of Milan's friendly match against Real Madrid, Pulisic stated how he was ultimately convinced by Pioli that joining the Rossoneri are the right move for the versatile attacker.

"What attracts me to join Milan? As I told u, it was the conversation with Pioli. It seems like the best decision for me. I'm happy to be at Milan, I will give my all to the club," Pulisic revealed.

"Speaking to Pioli, it didn't take much for me to join Milan, a few conversation was enough. The coach made it clear that he wanted me here."

Pulisic's statement pretty much indicates that Rossoneri's management plan in giving Pioli more of a role in the transfer market is certainly being implemented. If reports are to believe, Milan have been working hard to provide the coach with players that he wants and suits with his tactical setup.

Disappointing Chelsea Season Didn't Stop Milan from Signing Pulisic

Despite his rather disappointing season with Chelsea, Milan are not bothered as they remain keen on pushing for the American international's signature this summer. Pulisic becomes the club's third official signing after previously snatching Marco Sportiello and Luka Romero.

Aside from his underwhelming season with the Blues, the concern looming for the 24-year-old has been his health. The player is known to be a bit injury prone as since joining Chelsea, in the 2019/20 season he regularly missed more than 10 games each season. However, Pulisic's injury problem pretty happened only happened during his time at Stamford Bridge as that was not much of an issue when he was at Borussia Dortmund.

Pulisic's Injury History (via Transfermarkt)

Milan's injury record hasn't been great under Pioli's reign but there seems to be a positive improvement in the second half of last season. This season there seem to be some changes being made in the training setup by using more ball work. That slight training change might be aimed to reduce injury issues, especially in the first part of the upcoming new season.

Okafor to Join U.S. Tour After Completing Milan Move

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 19:01:00 +0000

Swiss international striker, Noah Okafor has officially signed for AC Milan after completing his medical this Saturday. After signing his deal, the attacker will reportedly fly to the United States and joins up with his new teammates for their pre-season tour.

🆗 @noah_okafor: welcome Noah ✍
#ACMQuest #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/B7vVSgNisd
— AC Milan (@acmilan) July 22, 2023

Reports of Okafor's arrival as the Rossoneri's new signing came up in haste as multiple sources, including Fabrizio Romano, revealed the deal on Friday. Without much delay, the 23-year-old is already seen taking his scheduled medical test before officially signing his contract with the Red and Black squad this Saturday.

The official announcement arrived on Saturday night but that won't stop Okafor from immediately joining up with his new teammates. Reports from Italy suggest that the Swiss international forward will be flying to the USA on Sunday and start his pre-season with Milan.

Not a New Target for Milan

Although the news of Okafor's signing for the Rossoneri came in a sudden, he is not actually a new name for the Serie A giant. Milan have been linked with the young striker since last season, notably after the Rossoneri met with the player's former club, RB Salzburg, during their Champions League group stage campaign.

Okafor put on a solid display, especially at the first meeting in Austria, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The 23-year-old forward netted a special goal in that game, which saw him smoothly beat Pierre Kalulu before slotting the ball passed Mike Maignan. That game was apparently the first time that Milan's boss, Stefano Pioli set his eyes on the attacker.

From that moment, the Rossoneri continue to monitor the striker and they eventually pull the trigger this weekend. Milan are reportedly set to pay around 15m Euro (including bonuses) to sign Okafor from Salzburg. The number is relatively low considering his talent, but that situation most likely happened as he is in the final year of his contract.

Okafor to Replace Ante Rebic

The versatile striker can play in multiple attacking roles, from wide left to right forward, and also playing more central. Many believe that Okafor can be an alternative to Olivier Giroud next summer, while that might be true but technically speaking, the Swiss international's arrival is mostly to replace Ante Rebic.

The Croatian striker is reportedly set to leave the club as he has been left out of Milan's pre-season tour in the U.S. Similar to Okafor, Rebic is also a versatile attacker, who despite preferring playing wide has also been placed centrally at times by Pioli. Despite being part of the Rossoneri's success, especially in winning the Scudetto two seasons ago, the ex-Fiorentina man is not considered part of the club's plan anymore.

Aside from Rebic, Milan will also offload another attacker, Divock Origi but for now, his position is being replaced by Lorenzo Colombo. The Rossoneri will be looking to see both Rebic and Origi departing from Milanello as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Okafor who has just recovered from a metatarsal injury will be starting his new adventure with Milan as soon as possible. The Rossoneri are also hoping that the Swiss international can help them back to snatch the Scudetto title and do well once again in Europe.

Okafor Take Rafael Leao's Previous Number

After offically confirmining his signing, Milan also revealed that the Swiss international attacker will be using Leao's old shirt number, 17. That number is available as the Portuguese decided to change into no. 10 this summer following Brahim Diaz's return to Real Madrid.

AC Milan Landed in USA Ahead of 2023 Preseason Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 09:45:00 +0000

AC Milan players have landed in the United States as they gear up for their pre-season tour which will include games against Real Madrid, Juventus, and Barcelona. The Rossoneri revealed on their official social media page arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday Morning (Italy time) or Friday evening local time.

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The Red and Black squad are continuing their preparation ahead of the new season participating in the 2023 Soccer Champions Tour. Milan started their pre-season training on July 10 but only played their first friendly two days ago against Serie D side, Lumezzane, which Stefano Pioli's side won 7-0.

Milan will be facing tougher opponents on their U.S. tour which will start on July 23 (local time) against Madrid. The Rossoneri will start their preparation in States now that they have already landed in the country. On their official social media page, the Rossoneri shared their arrival, showcasing how their players are looking joyful amid the long flight.

The Red and Black squad brings a relatively strong squad with their international players already returning to train with the team again. Some names such as Ante Rebic, Divock Origi, Fode Ballo-Toure won't be available as they are expected to leave this summer. Other names who are also absent from the U.S. tour are Marko Lazetic and Mattia Caldara.

After battling Los Blancos, Milan will face Juventus on July 27 and Barcelona on August 1, before returning to Italy the next day. More updates regarding the Rossoneri's activities on their tour can be checked out on this website.

Will Milan's Patience Bear Its Fruit?

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 06:02:00 +0000

AC Milan have been having a rather mix early part of their new season, notably in Italian Serie A as they already lost five games up til now, despite winning the same amount as well and only drawing just once. Certainly with the amount of money being spent this summer, that number of defeats are quite concerning, but so far the new management opted to remain patient with their head coach, Vincenzo Montella, something that whether some fans like it or not must be done, at least for the time being. Most of their defeats have arrived from other big teams, though apart from the match against Lazio, Rossoneri have actually been able to compete properly with their opponents, but just missing that bit of something each time.

Against AS Roma, Milan were able to battle hard and looked slightly dominant, before their opponent got themselves a goal out of nowhere and eventually taking advantage of Montella's team losing concentration to snatch the second goal. Somewhat similar situation to what happened this past weekend against defending champion Juventus, as the Red and Black squad were competing well against their opponent, but that game was decided by two wonderful goals from Gonzalo Higuain. There's still that slight lack of chemistry, confidence and quality going forward as they're finishing at decision making is still not at the highest quality as just yet. Meanwhile, slight miss-communication and concentration continuously resulting in goals for their opponents, notably when battling against those top teams.

Lacking talents are not really the issue with the current Rossoneri squad, but they do lacking a bit of something compared with other teams that have seasoned players in the league. Several new arrivals might not be at the highest level as just yet, but they are quality talent that can get into that level should they improve properly. However, having too many young talents combined with arrivals who are not familiar yet with Serie A is simply a big gamble that the new management opted to go this summer. They started off well indeed, but having a team that are still working their chemistry on the pitch, not to mention several unexpected injury problems already troubling them early on, inconsistent results are bound to happen.

Although five defeats already might be considered too match, but most of them were very tight and luck simply haven't been on their side either so far this season. Montella certainly must try to analyze and work on something that can immediately work, but sometime patience might very well be the key, since chemistry might take a while to really blend. That's probably why it's kind of difficult for the management to make a harsh decision on the tactician's future as Fassone and Mirabelli understand that they have a pretty big part to play with the current results. Buying so many talents, with most of them either never play in Serie A or experience competing with a big team, can be such dangerous decision since the tactician might need some figuring out time to discover which setup can work consistently.

Of course Montella has his blames, notably in taking time to decide on the basic system the team going to use, along with deciding who will be making that first team squad certainly affecting that chemistry process. However, it's never easy as there's always difficulties in creating that right mix when there's just too many new players arriving and also many being shipped out from the squad along the way. For now, the former Fiorentina boss might need to simply go on what work best, especially up front and simply try to get the sharpest combination up front along with the back line as well. Notably up front as they've been struggling a bit in recent games to score goals, something that got to do more with that confidence and chemistry more than just talent.

Will patience bear its fruit for Milan this season, only time can answer it, but with the decision that they made this summer, in terms of players recruitment, certainly giving more time is something that must be taken as strong consideration. One thing for sure, Montella must not let the current players losing more beliefs or confidence, because it will certainly play a huge effect on the performances on the pitch and should that happen, the tactician might really have to depart since maintaining the team's beliefs along with spirit are something that any coaches must do in this current situation.

Excitement Mounting as AC Milan Expecting Bonucci and Biglia's Arrival

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 11:10:00 +0000

AC Milan's transfer movement this summer continue to take an interesting twist as after some recent blip moments regarding Gianluigi Donnarruma's contract status along with Keita Balde's uncertainty. Rossoneri rising up high again as this weekend they are about to complete two major signings, Leonardo Bonucci along with Lucas Biglia. After spending most of their moves acquiring young talented players, Milan's new management seemingly think it's time they add some more experience into Vincenzo Montella's squad and it looks like happening with those two major names set to arrive.

Market Opportunity

It's a bit intriguing to say what Milan have been doing in the market so far as they made some good signings, with mostly players at young-medium age who could be ready to break out anytime soon. However, a shocking development suddenly arrived just couple of days back as Italian international defender, Leonardo Bonucci suddenly becomes a concrete target. According to reports, this situation occurred after constant discussion with the defender's agent, who also represents other players, who are already playing for the Rossoneri.

Sometime around Thursday things reportedly starting, while on the next day, media starting to pick things up, triggering many disbelief at first since not many would think that Bonucci would be allowed to move, let alone signing for Milan. However, reports turned out to be more than a smoke as there's strong fire in it with the player himself via his agent was the one who approached the Red and Black squad. Learning about the player's availability along with Juventus' willingness to sell for relatively good amount for today's market, Milan's management simply took the opportunity, despite there's still some certain gamble on it.

Several stories certainly came up regarding Juve's willingness to ship out Bonucci last summer, the top news was mainly about the bad relationship between the center back with his current coach, Massimiliano Allegri. Apparently, after getting involved in several big quarrel in the second half of last season, the pair's relationship can't be repaired anymore. There's also additional rumors that the player has also fallen out with some of his teammates during their Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid few months ago. Added with his age which has already reaching the 30 mark and his family situation, there's isn't much option for the Italian international to go as he isn't keen on leaving Italy.

Naturally, aside from Milan, Inter were also mentioned as possibility, but since his agent never had any talks with Nerazzurri about the situation, Rossoneri simply had the upper hand. Knowing things early, the seven time Champions League winner immediately try to conclude the transfer and agreeing a 40 million Euro(there's rumors to be additional bonuses) transfer fee with La Vecchio Signora within that Friday. People maybe asking why the Turin giant didn't ask for higher fee as in today's market the price has been escalating at a ridiculous rate. There's several things that might be in Juve's consideration, notably on the business side, if they take away any emotional attachment into the occasion, the Turin giant basically are selling a 30-year-old defender for 40 million Euro, who has recently been creating unwanted dressing room issues.

Although many fans would think, it's still doesn't add up with Bonucci's status and quality, but once again, the Turin giant have recently been known to operate their business more in such manner. Financially, for the Bianconeri's management might see themselves still getting financial benefit from their sale, while maintaining good relationship with Rossoneri off the court as well. It's not a secret that Juve have at least two players they are keen on acquiring from Milan, Mattia De Sciglio along with Donnarumma, with the former might be heading to Turin later on this transfer window. So, basically which ever way you want to look it, both sides feel that they are satisfied with the transfer deal.

It will certainly be interesting on whether Milan's transfer planning will slightly change again with Bonucci's capture as it is a market opportunity, which the management most likely didn't think can happen, at least not in such rapid situation. Reports of additional funds from China will certainly help Marco Fassone and Massimiliano Mirabelli's planning, though it might also means that Rossoneri have already find some potential buyers for their wantaway players. Although fans immediately set up thinking Rossoneri will be playing with a certain formation, but again it remain to be seen what will the next move that the Italian giant are making, notably for their striker position.

Completing the Ongoing Biglia Saga

Being slightly shadowed with Bonucci's massive surprise signing, Lucas Biglia has also been captured by Milan as they finally agreed on a fee with Lazio to sign the Argentinian international. After such long negotiation due, this deal finally got finalized also on Friday, giving Montella another exciting piece in that midfield setup. Once again, it's an experience guy, who has been performing consistently well for Lazio in recent years, proving he might still be able to provide tons of quality for the Rossoneri.

Similar with Bonucci's case, the Argentinian can also be considered as a market opportunity, since his contract is running out on 2018. Knowing that Rossoneri are keen on signing, Biglia didn't feel like extending his contract as he want's to have a new experience playing in somewhat more challenging situation with Milan. This deal was not planned to be a dragging and complex one as earlier in the summer, Lazio and the Red and Black squad already agreed on a package deal reportedly worth 50 million Euro for the midfielder along with his teammate, Keita Balde. However, the latter was wavered by Juventus' approach and continue to delay everything and forcing a change of scenario.

Tired of waiting for Keita to change his mind, Milan move in a different direction, but they were still keen on Biglia. Notably, Fassone and Mirabelli want a different price from their previous offer, but Lazio's management were sticking out to their own valuation. This create a dragging situation, but eventually was sorted out on Friday, with the Rossoneri eventually paying somewhere between 16 million/17 million plus bonuses that will reach to 20 million, the number Biancocelesti were continuously asking.

Rise of Excitement

Those two deals certainly create massive amount of excitement for Milan supporters at the moment, especially Bonucci's signing as they consider him as a top player that could lead them into immediately success. Understandable excitement indeed as those two experienced players, despite of them already in their 30s, still being considered as quality additions, especially for any teams in Italian Serie A. Now, expectations will certainly rise, especially if they do manage to acquire top notch striker to complete their roster, but again Rossoneri devotees must acknowledge the need of chemistry from those players before talking about major goals. The quality is there, along with an exciting coach to in Montella, now the tactician must be able to recreate that strong bond he installed last season, especially in the first part of the season before injuries starting to hold them back.

Aside from acquiring another attacker, now Milan's management must also start refocusing on selling their wantaway players and making sure they doesn't have to sacrifice any of their important ones from past season, as that could create some uncertainty growing among the current rosters. That's it's important that Rossoneri's management can maintain a strong bond of dressing room with motivated players and not triggering any unnecessary rumbling, especially because there's quite a lot of new names arriving this summer. Obviously that's part of the head coach's job, but another half is also being taken by the management as they're the one that are directly involve in making those new signings at Milanello. Hopefully, with their experience, both Fassone and Mirabelli can construct a good and highly motivated group without losing any strong bond that was build bit by bit last season.

AC Milan Weekend Transfer Updates (Saturday, July 1, 2017)

noreply@blogger.com (Dewa Nugraha) — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 23:43:00 +0000

Back again with the weekend transfer updates for AC Milan, not many development arrived in the early part of this week, though Rossoneri got themselves a new arrival on Fabio Borini from Sunderland. Let's get into more details about the news and rumors that I've been receiving recently regarding Milan's transfer market this summer.

Defender

Not much to add from this part of the team as Andrea Conti remain close with some details reportedly need sorting out. Latest reports is that Milan's young midfielder Matteo Pessina will be included in the deal, but they previously agreed to sent him towards Sassuolo, nevertheless it's just a small detail that should be concluded in a short while. Furthermore, the news also claimed that at the very least, everything can finally be finalized on Monday.

Another name being recently added again into the mix is Simon Kjaer, the media believes that he is someone Milan will be keen on securing, but only if they sell Gabriel Paletta and maybe Cristian Zapata as well. Could just be one of them though, since Rossoneri don't really have that much depth should both Paletta and Zapata leaves at the same time. Unless, another target will also be bought along side Kjaer.

As for the departure, Mattia De Sciglio remain keen on leaving for Juventus according to report, as Massimiliano Allegri reportedly has done some approach in recent times to prize up the Italian international to Turin. There's still no clear signal over what Milan wants though, as they seemingly still not that keen on selling the players to Juve, unless it's for an appropriate price.

Midfielder

Since Lucas Biglia's link has reportedly cooled down a bit as Milan supposedly waiting for the player's agent to arrive sometime next week, Vincenzo Montella's men are looking close to secure Hakan Calhonoglu from Bayer Leverkusen. Reports claiming an agreement could be reach this weekend and the player might also received that official announcement on Monday. Nevertheless, it's an interesting signing indeed as Calhonoglu is quite versatile and young, so there's plenty of room for improvements as well.

Other potential name being thrown around is Milan Badelj, who is being considered as a strong alternative should Biglia doesn't arrive from Lazio. Nevertheless, it's very likely that Biancocelesti will eventually let their skipper depart to San Siro, since Simone Inzaghi's men could use some fresh cash to start their very own market moves. As for the departing prospects, still nothing new as Andrea Poli is expected to move along with Juraj Kucka and possibly Andrea Bertolacci. It's slightly difficult for Rossoneri if they want to sell since they already showed strong indication of shipping those players, putting the club not in any advantages to ask for significant cash.

Attacker

Nothing new yet regarding the previous big names who are strongly linked with the Red and Black squad, as expensive deals might only be available latter in the transfer window. A surprise name could still be on the cards though as Milan directors certainly acknowledge the potential of having a big name forward arriving to Milanello. Nevertheless, there's already a surprise with Borini's arrival from Sunderland as he has already been confirmed as Rossoneri's new signing on Friday.

The 26-year-old attacker might not be someone who Milan fans are crazy about, but certain situations along with Borini's versatile characteristic seemingly being considered by the club's directors, notably Mirabelli, who likes the former Roma striker a lot. Notably the plan in releasing both Carlos Bacca and Gianluca Lapadula triggered this signing as Borini is a hard working attacker who can play many different roles up front.

Other linked names such as Nicola Kalinic remain a mystery since Milan and Fiorentina can't agree on a transfer fee. Moreover, with Borini's arrival, the Red and Black squad might just wait up for the market development, notably to see whether they can prize up their main targets or whether La Viola eventually dropping their price. Again, i noted that a surprise might still arrive from the Rossoneri as they have been very careful so far on cashing out their transfer funds by making some intriguing payment method, though it's potentially also to scrap away any potential FFP issues in the future.