Moving On…

With the close of the transfer window yesterday, Milan fans breathed a small sigh of relief. Well it would have been bigger, but we’re just not certain yet. You see, that should have been Galliani’s last mercato. The last time he had absolute power over Milan’s transfers, the absolute power he had created for himself over the years. So fitting that not only did La Gazzetta dello Sport give our mercato the lowest rating of all of the Serie A teams, but that his last transfer would expose him for who he really is. There’s nothing like going out in a ball of flames. But for Milan fans, I think we’re mostly just hopeful that he’ll actually be moving on.

"I am not a crook"

If you missed the details of our mercato, you can find a list of all of the players in and out at Milan in the previous post.  But the one that sparked the controversy was Matias Fernandez. He was set to go to Cagliari from Fiorentina. He had agreed to terms and everything. Then Galliani came in and hijacked the deal. Which of course did not sit well with Cagliari. So last night, Cagliari’s Sporting Director spoke to the press:

“We had total agreement with Fiorentina and the player. Mati had spoken with Isla to look for accommodation in Cagliari. It seems that the player took a step back. The player’s agent received a call from Casa Milan by Pablo Cosentino, who was banned before. Our president has been mocked.”

So Pablo Cosentino is the former CEO of Catania, and he had previously been arrested and served a ban for match fixing. He is an Intermediary and apparently a close friend of Galliani’s and it is reported that he helped him close several deals this summer like Sosa and Gomez. So because of these statements, everyone is talking about Galliani and his “criminal friends.” Well I’ve got news for you people, there are a whole lot of people in the football world who would be called that if everyone knew their past. Like his “criminal friend” Preziosi, who served a lengthy ban, to which much of Milan’s transfer funds have gone to in recent years. Or how about Galliani himself? His role in Calciopoli alone as well as his watered down punishment puts him in that category. Let alone all of the other times he’s been accused of other crimes both financial and sporting. Why single out just his friends? Why does the title of criminal not fall appropriately on his shoulders? Because the trophies in Casa Milan are polished too often to see the tarnish? Let’s just be honest here.

Why wouldn't Mati pick a bigger, better club? Nothing criminal about that.

But the Fernandez deal wasn’t all about criminals. What is so strange about a player wanting to reunite with someone who coached him for three years (or vice versa)? Why is it so strange that, despite having agreed to join a newly promoted side, when a 7-time Champions League winning team (albeit a lot worse for the wear) calls, don’t you take that deal? Without even thinking? Cagliari are obviously upset, as they should be, but the implication that someone who served a ban for matchfixing was the reason a player chose to play at a much better team with his former coach is quite ridiculous. And Milan have issued a public statement denying Cosentino’s involvement anyway.

So fitting, though, that our very own Legend Condor Criminal of a Sporting Director CEO Virtually Omnipotent Transfer Tyrant should finish his final mercato like this. With a laughable score from La Gazzetta, criticism from everyone, and being called out for his “criminal friends.” All for hijacking a player wanted by a newly promoted team. Pathetic. They say that eventually, everything you do good or bad catches up to you. And in his case, it’s unfortunately caught up with Milan, too. But with any luck, it will be his last mercato and all of us can look forward to moving on.

This post inspired by the music of The Smiths’ “Unloveable”

Our next match is a testimonial match
for ex-Bournemouth star Warren Cummings

AFC Bournemouth vs. AC Milan

Saturday, September 3 • 17:00 CEST (11:00am EDT)