Paolo Scaroni’s optimism for Milan’s next season

“Milan fans, don’t worry, Giorgio Furlani is building a Champions League team”. The exclusive words of the AC Milan president, Paul Scaroni, restore energy and auspiciousness after weeks with too many bad moods in the Rossoneri house. “The team is gearing up to play at high levels, with tall, strong, technical and fast players. We’re working to build something important and we’re doing it at a good pace, I’d say, also because there were so many new things”.

There is certainly no shortage of news around via Aldo Rossi, the latest concerns the signing until 2027 of Christian Pulisic, just a few hours ago: “We like strong players, by now the fans are getting used to it well. We make one purchase a week. I want to be clear though, since there are six weeks left until the market closes, don’t expect another six signings – he smiles – better to be honest”.

Around via Monte Napoleone, on the occasion of the “Joyride the future together” event in collaboration between Milan and BMW, a smiling Pioli also appeared, welcomed by the flashes of the photographers and by the warmth of the fans present. “Stefano is a person of good character, so we trust in his smile, we are hoping for a great job”. Milan has already returned to work on Monday 10 July for the first training session of the season. Among those present were also some new faces, such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 191 centimeters and 90 kilos. Muscles that Pioli’s team often missed last season. “I already feel at ease in Milan – said the class of ’97 – I like the style and culture of the city. Then the training center is fantastic, I’m really happy to be here”. Who knows if he will share the room with his lifelong friend “Fik” Tomori, as per tradition, from the age of 9-10, first in the Chelsea sports center and then in the national team.

Mike Maignan and Marco Sportiello, who arrived on a free transfer from Atalanta, will certainly share the goal. Polite, cordial and intelligent boy who arrives at Milan, as he himself was keen to remind us, after the “mess” from Serie D and not after a good season in the Spring. He has a great bond with Pioli, a relationship that goes beyond the pitch, having also shared tragic moments together, such as the sudden death of captain Davide Astori. Sportiello, despite his 31 years, still has a great desire to learn and get involved. Handanovic is his ideal model between the posts and who knows Maignan won’t be able to make him change his mind.

Certainly the ideas are changing in Stefano Pioli’s head, in his fifth season on the Rossoneri bench. Not a trivial step, indeed. 4-3-3, 4-3-1-2, Milan are experimenting with a new, more physical and faster football in the ball lane. “Milan is like a hybrid machine – declared the Milan coach – we want to start strong and maintain a certain consistency. We are also recharging the batteries to last. We are preparing ourselves in the best possible way to be competitive and do the best we can”. The message is clear, despite some perplexities, Milan continues its path with determination. “Every department needs to be strengthened, we close every target on the transfer market”, read the banner displayed by the Curva Sud, outside the Carnago sports centre. Furlani, Moncada and the new sporting director Antonio D’Ottavio will work to deliver Pioli a competitive squad from 20 July, the day of his departure for the tour in the United States. An attacker will arrive after Ibrahimovic’s farewell. The club has worked on several fronts in the last few hours. Gustav Isaksen, Danish striker, born in 2001, from Midtjylland has aroused more than one interest. The footballer dreams of a landing in Italy. And Morata? Milan offered the Spaniard a four-year contract worth around 4 million per season. Answer not received, but, as the president recalled, we need to take one step at a time without expecting a market hit a week.