Football Season Guide

After a rather mixed season, at the end of which they managed to qualify to the Europa League, Milan were expected by an intense summer. In fact, they were first denied participation to the European competitions by UEFA, due to some financial issues. Such penalty was eventually cancelled and so they will regularly compete in the Europa League Group stage. Besides that, the Chinese owners, who had just taken over from Berlusconi twelve months ago, saw the end of their reign as they did not make the due payments and the club ended up in the hands of an American fund. And an Italian banker, Paolo Scaroni, was named as the new President. For such reason, the club was not very active during the initial part of the summer. They first signed a prestigious back-up player in Pepe Reina, who should represent an experienced alternative to Gianluigi Donnarumma in the goal. Then, they hired Ivan Strinic from Sampdoria. The left-back reached the World Cup final with Croatia, despite offering mixed performances, and he is set to contend with Ricardo Rodriguez for a starting place, at the orders of coach Gennaro Gattuso. The latter was not openly confirmed at the helm but he should still be leading the Devils for the current campaign. A few players returned from loans and it has to be seen whether or not they will play for Milan again: this certainly the case of Carlos Bacca and Andrea Bertolacci. On the other hand, Nikola Kalinic’s move became definitive. While confusion was reigning over Milan, news came out that Leonardo Bonucci was dissatisfied with how things went at the club and he was immediately let go back to Juventus, where he had come from just 12 months earlier. This turned out to be a great move for Milan, who could acquire the promising Mattia Caldara for the heart of the defence and, most importantly, Gonzalo Higuain. He should represent a great improvement for an attack where the young Patrick Cutrone was the unexpected leader. Milan are still trying to make a prestigious signing in the midfield and the free agent Bernard could also arrive for the attack.