Much is being spoken of the transformation to Milan's first team this summer, especially after starting the season with three straight wins. First, there were drastic changes to the sporting sector, then an incredible 17 players leaving the first team. Then Milan invested approximately €125 million in ten new players, including those who arrived on free transfers. There was even a last minute push that saw three more players leave and one more player signed in the final 24 hours of the transfer window. When the dust settled, it was clear that this was a revolutionary summer transfer window.
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| Dynamic changes. |
Beginning in the sporting sector, the following personnel left:Paolo Maldini, Technical Director
Frederic Massara, Sporting Director
Angelo Carbone, Head of Youth Sector
Flavio Roma, Goalkeeping Coach for the first team
(There may have been other changes as well, but the Club has not officially announced them)
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| Changes in responsibilities. |
The new appointments for these positions are:
Geoffrey Moncada, Technical Director (formerly head scout)Antonio D'Ottavio, Sporting Director (formerly head scout of the youth system)
(unknown) Head of Youth Sector
Luigi Ragno and Antony Roberts, Goalkeeping Coaches for the first team
For a complete list of the current technical and medical staff for the first team, click here.
Also of note, Ignazio Abate renewed his contract as Primavera Coach through 2024.
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| Saying goodbye to much grinta in only two players. |
All players who left the first team this summer:
Zlatan Ibrahimović (retired)
Brahim Díaz (loan ended)
Sergiño Dest (loan ended)
Aster Vranckx (loan ended)
Tiémoué Bakayoko (loan ended)
Ciprian Tatarusanu (contract ended)
Sandro Tonali (sold to Newcastle)
Matteo Gabbia (on loan to Villareal for the season)
Ante Rebić (free transfer to Besiktas)
Devis Vásquez (on loan to Sheffield Wednesday for the season)
Junior Messias (extended his contract through 2025, on loan to Genoa with obligation to buy)
Charles De Ketelaere (loan to Atalanta with option to buy)
Marko Lazetić (on loan to Fortuna Sittard for the season)
Alexis Saelemaekers (on loan to Bologna with an option to buy)
Lorenzo Colombo (extended his contract through 2028, on loan to Monza for the season)
Divock Origi (on loan to Nottingham Forest with option to buy)
Fodé Ballo-Touré (on loan to Fulham for the season)
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| Bringing smiles to Milan. |
All players who joined the first team this summer:
Marco Sportiello (signed from Atalanta)
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (signed from Chelsea)
Luka Romero (signed from Lazio)
Christian Pulisic (signed from Chelsea)
Tijjani Reijnders (signed from AZ Alkmaar)
Noah Okafor (signed from Red Bull Salzburg)
Samuel Chukwueze (signed from Villareal)
Yunus Musah (signed from Valencia)
Marco Pellegrino (signed from Club Atlético Platense)
Luka Jović (signed from Fiorentina)
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| Welcoming one another. |
Other notable moves in the transfer window:
Antonio Mirante (renewed after contract ended)
Mattia Caldara (returning from loan to Spezia last season)
Daniel Maldini (loaned to Empoli for the season)
Andreas Jungdal (free transfer to Cremonese)
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| The second USMNT signing this season was Musah. |
These changes revolutionized not just the teamsheet or the balance sheet, but also Pioli's tactical system and style of play. Fans are very much enjoying the attacking options in his starting 11 thus far, with dazzling goals such as Theo Hernández's goal vs. Torino, voted goal of the month for August, or Leão's brilliant goal vs. Roma on Friday. Also, with a squad that has at least five fewer players now, the wage bill stayed relatively the same, given that several of the new players came in on higher wages.
There were concerns for our Champions League Group Stage squad with some of the "homegrown" players having left. However, by keeping Caldara in the team after his return, signing Sportiello, and having both Calabria and Florenzi healthy this time (in addition to Mirante and Pobega again,) Pioli was able to scrape together enough club trained and association players to put together a 23-man UEFA List A for this season, which is the same number as last year (25 would be the maximum number of players if Milan had two more club trained players in their squad.) Hopefully, this will be enough this time, having been drawn into the so-called "Group of Death."
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| The two youngest signings, Luka Romero and Marco Pellegrino, were left off of the UEFA list. |
As usual, Milan also made a number of changes in the youth sector, bringing in several new players for the Primavera (U19) team, and clearing out a number of players on loan or permanent deals.
Players from the Youth Sector:
Noah Raveyre (signed from St. Étienne)
Alex Jiménez (on loan from Real Madrid with option to buy and a counter-option)
Mateusz Josef Skoczylas (signed from Zaglębie Lubin)
Fredrik Nissen (signed from IF Brommapojkarna)
Alexander Simmelhack (on loan from FC Copenhagen with right of redemption)
Chaka Traorè (extended his contract through 2028)
Mattia Liberali (signed his first professional contract)
Vittorio Magni (signed his first professional contract)
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| Noah Raveyre is a promising signing for the Primavera. |
Marco Brescianini (sold to Frosinone)
Leonardo D'Alessio (loaned to Pro Sesto 1913)
Gabriele Bellodi (sold to Olbia Calcio 1905)
Marco Nasti (loaned to Bari with an option to buy and a buyback clause)
Youns El Halil (sold to SC Cambuur)
Bob Murphy Omoregbe (loaned to US Fiorenzuola 1922 for the season)
Antonio Gala (extended his contract through 2024, loaned to US Sestri Levante 1919)
Gabriele Alesi (loaned to Sampdoria)
Federico Mangiameli (sold to Bologna)
Michele Casali (sold to Cagliari)
Andrea Bozzolan (extended his contract through 2027, loaned to Perugia)
Jordan Longhi (sold to Monza)
Andrea Capone (sold to NK Varaždin)
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| 15 year-old scoring phenom Francesco Camarda was also promoted to the Primavera and given the number 9 jersey (he has scored over 500 goals for Milan so far) |
Abate's Primavera (U19) also started their season off with two straight wins, and will be competing in the UEFA Youth League again, also in Group F, against the U19 teams from the same clubs as the first team: PSG, Borussia Dortmund, and Newcastle. Last year, the Primavera also made it to the semifinal, the only Italian team to do so, and it was also the first time our Primavera team had accomplished this.
The revolution was extreme, with big spending and even bigger changes for everyone. However, the hope is that the big changes will also bring big fortunes on and off the pitch. It remains to be seen whether the heavy investment in attack will be costly in defending, or just how long it will take for everyone to settle in, as Pioli keeps emphasizing in his press conferences.
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| With the right balance and discipline, this revolution could work. |
We have already seen some discipline issues on and off the pitch with established players, so hopefully those are also just part of everyone settling in. There is a wide variety of experience in the squad now in terms of Serie A and Champions League, as well, so hopefully, there will be a healthy balance in order to be competitive quickly to meet the demands of Milan's insane schedule in the league and in Europe through October. Hopefully, this revolution is enough to bring the desired outcomes with the fierce battles that lie ahead, beginning with il Derby della Madonnina right after the break.
This post inspired by the music of The Beatles' "Revolution"