Milan Summer 2014: The What Happens Next Edition

The second half of the 2013-14 season brought some success on the pitch with Clarence Seedorf coaching the team to a 11-6-2 record (compared to Massimiliano Allegri’s first half record of 5-7-7) and a goals scored – conceded record of 26-19 (compared to 31-30). Beginning somewhere in the middle of Seedorf’s short tenure anybody looking closely enough noticed the lack of support for the coach from above – including a rather cheap shot at the coach by Silvio Berlusconi himself – and rumblings of some player discontent (more recently somewhat confirmed by Mattia De Sciglio). By the end of the season in May it seemed inevitable that Seedorf will be sacked and also inevitable that he will try to get compensation and not go without some fight. Half hearted rumors linked Sevilla’s Europa League winning coach Unai Emery to the Milan job, a few others too. As it transpired Pippo Inzaghi was asked to step up from the youth team and start planning for next season even though he was not officially presented as coach.

Casa Milan inaugurated in May 2014

Barbara Berlusconi seemingly now completely out of sporting side of the decision making continued to push the financial and sponsorship side and presented a face for the team by inaugurating the team’s new headquarters, Casa Milan.

The non-sporting side does offer a glimmer of hope and an owned stadium, when it happens, offers something to look forward to. Although it may add additional fiscal pressures which put its timing also into question.

An idea for the team, if it is to accept its financial impotence, is to look at player loans. Amidst the so called youth project that seems to be in the making (or not depending on the news of the day … see possible sale of Bryan Cristante) it may be wise to look for success via loans. This may be sacrilegious to most if not all Milan fans but a team made by getting the likes of Marko Marin (recently on loan at Sevilla from Chelsea), Thorgan Hazard (Zulte from Chelsea), Gerard Deulofeu (Everton from Barcelona) or even Romelu Lukaku may provide a modest path to success parallel the promise and investment in youth.

However and for the time being, as of this article, Milan have added Alex from PSG on a free transfer on a two year deal and are trying to bargain after the fact to lower Adil Rami’s post loan buyout fee. It’s early days yet and the World Cup is upon us but little of substance seems to be in the works. The possibility of all of Robinho, Kaka and Philippe Mexes leaving and the need to reduce squad size and hopefully end the era of Antonio Nocerino, Alessandro Matri and Michael Essien may be more urgent than additions. Reducing squad size and team payroll will go a long way to bringing the team in line with the reality of one struggling to buy and out of European competition.

Milan needs to look a lot different by the beginning of September. It remains to be seen if Adriano Galliani is the man to overlook the change that is not like any other in Milan’s modern era.