Pioli and the new role in Milan without Maldini: more central – Corriere.it

Coach, American style. Cos Stefano Pioli is defined in the farewell statement to Paolo Maldini. A detail, or maybe not. Because in reality something will also change in the role of the Rossoneri coach, who enjoys the full trust of Gerry Cardinale and of RedBird. So much so that it has never been questioned, not even in the most critical moments of the season.

With the new organization, Pioli will be more involved in decision-making processes which will lead to the purchase of this or that player. Not a real English-style manager role, where the duties of coach and sporting director practically coincide, like Arsene Wenger at the time of Arsenal to be clear, but certainly something different than today. The technician will be able to have a greater impact on market strategies, he will have to relate to the CEO Giorgio Furlani and the scout chief Geoffrey Moncada. In fact, he will be more directly involved in the choice of purchases and sales. A new role for him too, who will become an even more central figure in the construction of the Milan to come.

Relations with Maldini and Massara were excellent. Pioli has not forgotten how the technical area defended him in the summer of 2020, when CEO Gazidis was evaluating the (never really thorough) Rangnick hypothesis. These three years have been proof that this was the right choice. But it wasn’t just the Scudetto or the newfound feeling with the Champions League that convinced Cardinale that Pioli was the ideal coach to continue the growth process. The enhancement of the youngest was a plus in his favor. Like the style: never over the top, no shouting, no excessive arguments with the referees.

At RedBird he’s not considered a businessman in the negative sense of the term: people like him because he finds a solution instead of adding problems. The owners appreciated the fact that he completed an overall positive season despite an inadequate squad for the double commitment. He has a long contract, until June 2025, for 4 million plus bonuses: a substantial engagement, which he deserved after winning the Italian flag.

The efforts of a long and complicated season concluded, yesterday he was in his Parma in search of serenity. Then he will go on vacation to his retreat in Forte dei Marmi. But with the phone always at hand: there is a Milan to be built. Yesterday the news arrived from Spain according to which Diaz will return to Real Madrid and renew until 2027. It looks a lot like a definitive farewell to Milan.