In a seismic shift that has left the football world agog, AC Milan has essentially reshaped its entire identity over the past year. With an astonishing 24 players out of 35 from the previous campaign having departed, the Rossoneri squad is almost unrecognizable. This isn`t merely a squad refresh; it`s a radical reconstruction. But who are the chosen few, the eleven steadfast souls, who survived this unprecedented footballing culling?
The AC Milan squad from a year ago. Those in red (and circled) are the ones who remained. A stark visual of the significant turnover.
The Unprecedented Exodus: Milan`s Identity Crisis on the Pitch
Imagine looking in the mirror and not recognizing your own reflection. That, metaphorically, is the current state of AC Milan. Two whirlwind transfer windows have utterly transformed the team`s aesthetic, its very essence. Of the 27 players captured in the summer of 2024 team photo, a staggering 16 are no longer adorning the hallowed grounds of Milanello. Right-backs, for instance, seem to have been a particularly ill-fated breed, with Emerson Royal, Calabria, Terracciano, Walker, and Jimenez all packing their bags. The attacking department wasn`t spared either, witnessing the departures of Chukwueze, Liberali, Joao Felix, Morata, Jovic, Abraham, Okafor, Camarda, Omoregbe, and Sottil. It`s a roster revolution, a veritable game of musical chairs where only a handful kept their seats, some quite precariously.
The `Untouchables` and the `Near-Misses`
Amidst this whirlwind of change, a select few enjoyed a relatively serene period, their futures seemingly secure. Matteo Gabbia certainly falls into this category, his place in the squad never truly in doubt. Similarly, Ruben Loftus-Cheek was swiftly “blinded” – or rather, secured – by returning manager Massimiliano Allegri, even before the new season truly began. For others, the tranquility was fleeting. Christian Pulisic and Strahinja Pavlovic experienced a slight tremor in their secure positions. Whispers of offers from Saudi Arabia for Pulisic quickly dissipated, lasting, as the article aptly puts it, “a quarter of an hour or a little more.” Pavlovic faced a brief hypothesis of a winter transfer, but nothing substantial materialized. These players can perhaps be thankful for short attention spans in the rumor mill.
Youthful Resolve: Building for Tomorrow
The younger contingent, a vital component for any club`s long-term health, deserves its own narrative. Milan has placed its faith in promising talents like Torriani and Bartesaghi, resisting overtures from both Italian and international clubs. Fonseca`s Lyon showed interest in goalkeeper Torriani, the very coach who launched his career, but Milan held firm. Bartesaghi, the young defender, also caught the eye of several teams, including Roma. Yet, Allegri`s trust prevailed; he`s slated to be the primary backup on the left, a testament to the club`s commitment to nurturing its future stars.
The Tempting Offers: Big Names Almost Gone
Then there are the stories of the stars who stood at a crossroads, with lucrative opportunities beckoning from afar. There was a moment when Bayern Munich reportedly considered a bid for the electric Rafael Leão. And for a period during the summer, Youssouf Fofana found himself at the center of transfer whispers originating from Saudi Arabia. Intriguingly, neither of these tantalizing propositions ever fully materialized. Given the significant purchasing power of the potential suitors, it`s fair to say that a concrete offer would not have left Milan entirely indifferent. For now, they remain Rossoneri, their fate perhaps to be revisited in six months – but that, as they say, is another story entirely.
The Edge of the Abyss: High-Stakes Stays
Some players didn`t just stand at a crossroads; they dangled precariously over the edge. Three individuals, more than any others, faced genuine risks of departure, spending days where they were “more out than in.” Mike Maignan, the formidable goalkeeper, was Chelsea`s top target early in the summer, with the London club seriously considering bringing him to the Club World Cup. For a week, an €18 million agreement seemed imminent. However, Allegri, upon taking charge, emphatically declared that Maignan, the team`s captain-keeper, was central to his plans. Milan, wisely, listened, pulling Maignan off the market – a decision that, ironically, complicated talks with Strasbourg (Chelsea`s “sister club”) for Guéla Doué. Talk about managerial influence!
Fikayo Tomori faced an even closer shave in January. A “big, big risk” indeed. Milan had reportedly reached agreements with both Juventus and Tottenham. Twice, Fikayo uttered a polite but firm “thanks but no, thanks; I`d rather stay here.” His message was clear: unless explicitly told he was surplus to requirements, he was staying put. And no one ever gave him that directive. One can almost picture him stubbornly planting his feet, a silent act of defiance against the transfer merry-go-round.
Santi Gimenez: The Ultimate Last-Minute Reprieve
But the player who truly skirted the precipice of departure, arguably more than Maignan or Tomori, was Santi Gimenez. He was tantalizingly close to donning the colors of a Milan rival. Gian Piero Gasperini, the Atalanta coach, saw something special in him, and in the final 48 hours of the transfer window, a potential swap deal involving Dovbyk ignited fierce debate across sports sites and social media. Yet, in a dramatic twist, Santi remained. Much like his runs towards the opposition goal, he didn`t look back. Milan fans, who ardently wished for him to stay, and Gimenez himself, a childhood Rossoneri sympathizer, have been granted another opportunity. What more could one ask for after such a nail-biting close call?