Guess Who’s Coming to Milanello?

I cannot tell whether it is fear or excitement that surrounds the players’ upcoming return to Milanello on Friday. The hope and optimism for the mercato that swelled with news of the agreement with Bee Taechaubol crashed and burned like the Hindenburg when Galliani’s initial transfer attempts failed miserably. So now Galliani has been working overtime, planning a mercato like it’s 1986. The co-ownership deadline was last Thursday, contracts are expiring tomorrow, and the mercato officially opens on Wednesday. Yet with so little tied up so far, it leaves us all to ask: Guess who’s coming to Milanello?

Working overtime to figure out a plan for this mercato

Below is my best attempt at a snapshot of where the team is right now between renewals, purchases, pending purchases, players with contracts, players on loan, as well as players who are definitely leaving or out and/or are out of contract. Keep in mind that not all players with a contract will be invited back, especially if they are likely to be leaving for whatever reason. But these are the players most likely to be seen at Milanello on Friday:

Renewed:

Abate (contract through 2019)

De Jong (contract through 2018)

In:

Ely (bought back from Avellino)

Verdi (co-ownership bought out from Torino in blind auction)

Pending:

Bertolacci (taking medicals today)

Bacca (agreement in place pending medical and signature)

Currently in squad:

Lopez

Agazzi

Antonelli

Albertazzi (rumored to be heading out on loan)

Alex (rumored to be heading to Brazil)

De Sciglio

Paletta

Rami (rumored to be heading anywhere but Milan)

Zaccardo

Zapata

Bonaventura

Montolivo (probably on vacation)

Muntari (vicious rumors he’ll stay)

Poli

Nocerino (loan with Parma is up)

Suso

Cerci (Even Atleti don’t want him back)

El Shaarawy

Honda

Mastour

Menez (rumored to be ignoring his teammates still)

Matri (loan with Juventus is up)

Niang (loan with Genoa is up)

Petagna (loan with Vicenza is up)

This list does not include Milan youth players given contracts or on loan/going on loan

Renew or retire... that is the question

Players that you most likely won’t see on Friday:

Currently on loan (but owned by Milan):

Gabriel (loan to Carpi renewed until 2016)

Out:

Bocchetti (loan over – back to Spartak Moscow)

Destro (loan over – back to Roma, looking to transfer to Monaco)

Birsa (Chievo bought his contract)

Essien (out of contract, moved to Panathanaikos)

Saponara (loan to Empoli w/right of redemption, linked to Napoli)

Out of contract/loan (not renewed as of this writing):

Abbiati

Bonera

Mexes

Pazzini (likely going to Verona)

Didac Vila (FINALLY!)

Van Ginkel (Chelsea bound unless a miracle happens)
Robinho (contract mutually rescinded)

This snapshot also shows how much work Galliani has ahead of him, not just of purchasing some more key players who have quality, but of getting rid of players who have been on loan or otherwise need to leave. Let’s hope the old man has what it takes to trim the squad and build a better team, even if that team is unlikely to be present on Friday.

This post inspired by the music of The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go”