Pedulla: Milan’s business an ‘outrage’ – ‘90%’ of Allegri’s requests will be rejected

Journalist Alfredo Pedulla has deemed AC Milan’s summer business a strong failure, while explaining the frustrations Massimiliano Allegri must have.

Milan spent decent sums in the summer window on the likes of Koni De Winter, Samuele Ricci, Pervis Estupinan and Christopher Nkunku, all of whom have not so far provided the returns hoped for.

This had led to suggestions that the Rossoneri management will try to ‘correct’ things in the winter window just as they did a year ago. The first deal is already done: Niclas Füllkrug will arrive from West Ham on loan with an option to buy.

There is talk of a central defender coming in given De Winter’s struggles, while there are other areas that could potentially be addressed like the wing-back department.

Pedulla’s criticism

In his latest editorial for Sportitalia, Alfredo Pedulla did not hold back in his criticism of the Milan management for the way that they have handled transfer business recently.

“In a normal company, letters requesting compensation would have already been sent out. Consider the AC Milan and Roma transfer window last summer, which was just a few months ago, not the summer of 2022.

“Among consultants close to Furlani (one in particular), sporting directors, and friends of friends, they’ve done more damage than hailstorms. If Roma are looking for two strikers and has put both Raspadori and Zirkzee at the forefront, it means the July and August transfer window was a disaster.

“Milan’s is a sentence, prepare your letter and ask for damages. Among the summer signings, we’re at a point of no return: thunderous applause only for Rabiot, who coincidentally arrived in the last few days after Allegri’s heartfelt request following his shock debut against Cremonese.

Photo by AC Milan

“But the other signings cost a lot of money, and if I were the owners, I’d really demand an explanation from the sporting director or whoever endorsed this outrage. Players who cost a fortune, like Estupinan, who immediately lost his job to the rising Bartesaghi.

“The investment in Jashari shouldn’t be judged, given his long injury, but if you spend a lot of money on him, you could avoid signing Ricci too, ignoring the consultant who’s asking you to keep a promise from the previous January.

“And if you offer 40 for Nkunku after nearly paying that amount a few months earlier to snatch Gimenez from Feyenoord, you’re truly without a defence. What strikes me most is something else: the impotence of a coach like Allegri, who has to settle for whatever comes his way, knowing that 90 percent of his requests will be rejected.

“But Milan have been unable to land a proper striker for ages, which underscores how much and how times have changed. For months, Max has been asking to focus on Vlahovic on a free transfer, the summer transfer window had just closed; we’ll see if they’ll slam the door in his face again. Fullkrug’s arrival is a clear sign: get the cheapest.”