GdS: Allegri’s chosen ones – why Milan have the fewest different starters in Serie A

It would be fair to say that Massimiliano Allegri has placed his full trust in a select few players, at least based on what the numbers show.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport report, one of the certainties of 2025-26 is that not many players will finish the season unhappy with their playing time. The squad has been trimmed to just 19 outfield players, and even with no European football, they should all get their moments to shine.

The 26 players in the 2024-25 squad have become 22 and three are goalkeepers. So it’s clear there is room for everyone, especially as injuries and suspensions roll in.

The chosen ones

In the first five rounds of the league season, Milan are the Serie A team that has used the fewest starters with 14. Cagliari (15), Genoa, Parma, Pisa and Sassuolo (16) follow. At the other end of the table are Napoli (20 starters) and Bologna (24).

That 14 is a number destined to increase physiologically. Already in Turin against Juve it could rise to 16 with the use of Davide Bartesaghi and Koni De Winter (in competition with the recovered Fikayo Tomori), and after the break it will presumably reach 17 with the return of Leao.

After five games in Serie A, #ACMilan had the least number of different starters used (14).

[via @Gazzetta_it] pic.twitter.com/qtSpfMYaAu

— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) October 5, 2025

In the meantime, right now, that number 14 remains and tells the world how Milan are currently a very well-defined unit, with clear balance and a coach who is making precise choices. He is placing his trust in a small number who have brought four league wins in a row and just one goal conceded.

Rotation is therefore kept to a minimum (after all, there are no midweek European hurdles), but at the same time, there is a potential prospect of adequate playing time for everyone in the medium term. This could be one of the secrets of the Rossoneri’s entire season.