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AC Milan’s summer transfer window is reaching a red-hot phase, but it has raised questions about the chain of command.
As Tuttosport write this morning, Igli Tare made his name under Claudio Lotito at Lazio. But there, at least, the hierarchy was very linear. That’s not the case at Milan (yet), despite the disasters wrought last season, and they should have taken counsel.
Even Massimiliano Allegri – the ‘strongman’ chosen to lead the club back to where it should always be (i.e., the Champions League) – would have immediately sensed that some short-circuiting still exists in the club’s decisions.
This was demonstrated by the words of Giovanni Branchini, his agent, a few nights ago on Sky, when the Jashari soap opera was still gripping transfer market fans.
“Don’t think Max will resign if Jashari doesn’t come to Milan. Are you so sure this is such a firm and insistent request from Allegri? It was proposed and passed the test. I’m not even so sure that everyone within the club is so in agreement on this operation.”
This last statement – said by a FIFA agent who never speaks in vain – seems to be a snapshot of a society where everyone is struggling to move in the same direction.
Who’s really in charge?
It’s no secret that Giorgio Furlani, the club’s CEO, had already been preparing the Ricci deal with Torino this spring with Urbano Cairo.
Allegri, while appreciating the value of a player currently playing for the national team, wanted a midfielder with different characteristics (Granit Xhaka), which caused some stomach ache with Tare.
Then, there is the Mattia Liberali case. Tare had agreed a deal to sell him to Catanzaro for free with a 50% resale clause but it was met by Furlani’s refusal, attracted by the offer from Torino (a club with which, given the Ricci deal, he has an excellent relationship) which was more lucrative for Milan.
It matters little who prevails in the tug-of-war and who is right in the matter with hindsight, but the picture that emerges from this pantomime, unprecedented in Milan’s history, is that of a club with at least two heads on the transfer market (because Allegri also has a say in the matter).
On one side there is Tare, on the other Furlani, who is said to not only guard the club’s wallet and set the budget for various transactions. Thanks to the contacts and friendships cemented in recent years, he wants to direct decisions that, in theory, should be made by the sporting director.
Another chef to be added
As if that weren’t enough, despite his seemingly more marginalised position, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still moving his tentacles, an advisor closely followed by club owner Gerry Cardinale.
The Swede is said to be the sponsor of the idea of bringing Adriano Galliani back to Milan in the role of super-consultant (Director of Football, officially). The key date is September 9th, when the closing between Monza and the new American owners is scheduled to take place.
In the event it goes through, the CEO would be freed from his duties with the Brianza club and could accept the proposal made by Milan’s owner. He would also be an ‘advisor’ linked to RedBird and would be responsible for relations with the institutions.
He would also oversee diplomatic relations with the big clubs, although – given the extremely solid relationships between Galliani and numerous FIFA agents – it’s hard to imagine him not also having a say in the transfer market. Don’t tell Tare, though.
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