Journalist Carlo Pellegatti is expecting a solid summer mercato from AC Milan during which they build on the foundations they have already created, signing some starter-level players.
The papers are awash with rumours linking Milan with a variety of players in virtually every position from Sven Botman and Gleison Bremer in the defence to Renato Sanches for the midfield plus the likes of Charles De Ketelaere, Noa Lang and Nicolo Zaniolo for the attack.
Pellegatti spoke during an interview with MilanNews during which he spoke about some of the speculation surrounding the Rossoneri and more specifically the work that he expects Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara to do the summer.
“The base is there and it is very strong: defence, midfield, attack. I agree with those who say that if Milan manages to recruit four starting players or pseudo-such (Origi is done, Sanches very close, plus the central defender as a priority and then move on to numbers 10 and 7) then next year only a couple will be enough to get into the train of the top European clubs and, from there, you never get off,” he said.
“I think it is better to spend 20 million more than the budget to go to the knockout stages or the quarter-finals of the Champions League (and therefore the money is returned) than risk not getting there by spending 20 less, risking that this money will be in a certain way nullified. A sacrifice this year I hope that there is.”
It has already been quite a busy offseason as the club have changed owners, with RedBird Capital acquiring a majority from Elliott Management thus constituting a third change in ownership since Silvio Berlusconi left.
“We had a solid solid ownership. Now Milan have two very solid properties: Elliott, at least for a few months, will still take care of the operational plan on the sporting side, while Cardinale will certainly work to grow the brand with commercial operations,” Pellegatti revealed.
“Everything, however, will start from the stadium; Scaroni is right: they won’t wait long, where they see speed they will go. We will wait for the public debate out of respect for Milan and to Mayor Sala. Then we will talk: I don’t know with Inter or without Inter. There is, in my opinion, a strong temptation to do it yourself as per the Anglo-Saxon mentality.”
Divock Origi and Renato Sanches seem to be the closest to signing for the club at present, but do they convince Pellegatti?
“Origi we have to find out; he was the idol of the Liverpool fans and everyone speaks well of him. It’s like buying a horse from the Aga Khan Stable: whoever is born there, is born well with great blood,” he began.
“Renato Sanches is one who fills, a player present, spectacular; he can play for both in place of Kessie and as a midfielder. We have to wait for the situation of Lille: the DNCG decision will come next week and the possible arrival of the new coach Fonseca is also expected.
“Sanches must mature, but Maldini really likes these challenges also on a temperamental level. I would like to win it also with Zaniolo, but the legitimate requests of Roma cannot be for Milan. I support De Ketelaere more than for Lang and the Belgian could alternate with Sanches.”
Finally, on the Zaniolo hypothesis: “It is one of those hypotheses that fascinates me. They are those unexpressed players, who have so much potential… I don’t talk so much about the role, eventually we’ll see, but it fascinates me.”
