Reviewing AC Milan’s incredible summer window
After a disappointing yet predictable 6th place finish last season, AC Milan was a club with changes on the way. Chinese investors bought the club, with former owner Silvio Berlusconi stepping aside. On April 13th, Yonghong Li and Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux officially took charge, marking a new beginning for the Milanese club.
Under manager Vincenzo Montella, Milan desperately needed a stellar transfer window. The money was there, but whether or not those funds could be used properly was a whole other question.
The motto this summer has very much been out with the old and in with the new. Diego López, Keisuke Honda have both left and Carlos Bacca looks set to join them. Andrea Poli, Mattia De Sciglio and Juraj Kucka have also moved on, with wholesale changes on the way. Even teenage sensation Hachim Mastour was given the chop, nobody was safe.
Milan wasn’t looking to make small, minor changes, ownership wanted to change the face of the team. New look, new mentality, new Milan. Year’s of mediocrity appear to be coming to an end, with the team splashing the cash on some game changing players.
Starting strong this summer, Milan signed defender Ricardo Rodríguez, midfielder Franck Kessié and centre-back Mateo Musacchio. Signing this trio would be the beginning of an incredible summer for Milan. Moving on, Milan still needed to add some key players. One key area was the main striker role. André Silva was a key target for Milan, with the Portuguese striker signing for £32 million. Slowly but surely, a once lacklustre squad was gaining a new lease of life.
Now, it’s no good signing a striker if you don’t have anyone to give him the ball. Enter Lucas Biglia and Hakan Calhanoglu. Both should provide great service for Silva, either from open play or dead ball situations.
Everything was coming together, but yet again their work wasn’t done. Italian full-back Andrea Conti signed from Atalanta, in another summer deal. Adding a young Italian defender is good, but an experienced Italian International would be great. In what has easily been the summer’s most shocking move, Leonardo Bonucci joined AC Milan from rivals Juventus.
Bonucci has the quality to lead this Milan team back to where they belong, competing for the Serie A title. As one of the world’s best centre-backs, Bonucci is not only a key addition for Milan but a massive loss for title holders Juventus.
Despite all these signings, Milan still isn’t finished. Rumours continue to circulate over potential deals, primarily involving Renato Sanches. If signed, Sanches would take Milan’s summer spending to over £200 million.
Twitter: Easy to see why Renato Sanches would ‘like it’ at AC Milan next season https://t.co/yS5dzGgAK5 (@brfootball)
Whether or not Sanches joins Milan, this summer has been a success. Filling gaps, adding talent and changing the clubs direction and philosophy. This window couldn’t have come at a better time, with the club stuck in a spiral of mediocrity. AC Milan is back and they mean business.