GdS: ‘Revolutionised Diavolo’ – 33 players move in huge Milan summer overhaul

Seven players signed, fifteen sold. No matter how the Milan management would want to define it, it has been a summer of revolution.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport write this morning, that calculation doesn’t include the five players (Saelemaekers, Bennacer, Adli, Okafor and Lazetic) who returned from loans elsewhere and are still owned by Milan.

The seven who left Milanello on free transfers (Florenzi, Jovic and Vasquez) or failed to buy (Walker, Joao Felix, Sottil and Abraham) must be factored in total. In total, we’re talking about 33 players moving, one way or another.

There are still more than two weeks left in the transfer window, and at least one more surefire signing in attack is coming (perhaps Rasmus Hojlund), but Milan’s summer can already be summed up in one word: revolution.

After all, after an eighth-place finish in the league and a season that, despite the first trophy of the Red Bird era – the Supercoppa Italiana in Riyadh – can be described as disappointing understatement, a decisive turnaround was needed.

Even before they were on the pitch, the Diavolo had already changed their skin off it: Igli Tare as sporting director and Massimiliano Allegri as coach. Two key figures in reshaping the team.

The midfield

So far, Milan have spent €102.5m on signings alone, which with bonuses could rise to €111.5m. The most significant investments? At the heart of every formation, the midfield.

Ardon Jashari was the most expensive acquisition (€34m plus €3m in bonuses from Club Brugge), Samuele Ricci the second (€23m + €2m from Torino). Plus the luxury free transfer, Luka Modric, who brought a Ballon d’Or winner to Italy. The last one was Cristiano Ronaldo.

Of course, in midfield, Milan also sold one of their most prized assets, Tijjani Reijnders, for €57m plus €15m in bonuses from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. But every revolution involves painful sacrifices.

The flanks and defence

Other areas that have been completely changed include the flanks in defence. Theo Hernandez (€25m from Al Hilal) left, replaced by Pervis Estupinan, the first Ecuadorian in Milan’s history. Of the 2024-25 right-backs (Emerson Royal, Calabria, Florenzi, Walker and Jimenez), only the latter remains.

Meanwhile, Tare has focused heavily on Zachary Athekame (who has been made official today) and the return of Alexis Saelemaekers from his loan at Roma, plus, if desired, the versatile Koni De Winter (€20m between fixed fee and bonuses), whom Allegri previously coached at Juventus.

The Belgian, however, is primarily a centre-back, and it’s no coincidence that he was snapped up quickly (in less than 48 hours) after Thiaw left for Newcastle for €40m.

The rest

Up front, a new centre-forward is awaited. Meanwhile, at least three players are still missing from the transfer window: Bennacer, Adli and Lazetic are not part of the first-team squad and are officially on the market awaiting a settlement.

Tare has also worked hard on young players, from Camarda and Comotto on loan to Lecce and Spezia, respectively, to Liberali being sold to Catanzaro with a 50% resale clause.

He has managed to resolve thorny situations (from Emerson Royal being placed at Flamengo to Morata returning from Galatasaray to Como). The revolution is thus almost complete, all that’s needed is one final push.