Having been viewed as the boogeymen for stealing their brightest and best, the Ligue 1 champions could soon become a hunting ground for a resurgent AC Milan
The fall of grace of AC Milan has been well-documented, be it events unfolding on the football pitch or, perhaps more apparent, the departure of high-profile players. Many sought to harvest the fruits of a slow but gradual demise at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza: Kaka became a Galactico at Real Madrid, Andrea Pirlo swapped red and black for black and white at Juventus while the Milan hierarchy failed to replace key players effectively. One club to benefit tremendously from the downward slide at Milan (and Serie A as a whole) was Paris Saint-Germain. Edinson Cavani and Javier Pastore quit Italy for the Parisian side in record-breaking deals, but also among those to board the flight to the French capital were Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic; formerly of Milan.
The importance of these two figures at Milan was immeasurable. Silva was the heir-apparent to Alessandro Nesta and seemed destined to wear the captain’s armband into his late 30s. His sale, while nonetheless profitable (reportedly €42 million) was a heavy blow for fans who were still recovering from Kaka’s heart-wrenching exit; particularly as Silva wasn’t keen on leaving. Ibrahimovic has become universally recognised in his own right, leaving Paris as the club’s record goalscorer and plying his trade at Manchester United, the Swede had practically dragged the Rossoneri to dizzying heights in the Serie A table.
Neither player seemed intent on leaving Milan at the time and, worse still, both have expressed a desire to return at various points. Financially, Milan were not in a position to make such audacious moves on the transfer market, but this could soon change. Heavy investment from a Chinese consortium could be about to completely change the environment in the fashion capital, giving them access to funds thought unimaginable this time last year. Recent acquisitions have shown a degree of nous and the squad on a whole is still competitive, but far from a finished article. Youth, mercifully, has also found a place in this Milan team that continues to evolve.
So what next for the seven-time Champions League winners? Reinforcements in January seem inevitable with a view of returning to European competitions next season. As a result, the Rossoneri have been linked with everyone from one side of the globe to the next, ranging from Leonardo Pavoletti to Cesc Fabregas. In a curious turn of events, the crosshairs could fall on Paris, with the Rossoneri desperate to recover their prestige through major signings. The name that has fans talking is Marco Verratti. The Italian international was a step away from joining Milan during his youth career at Pescara, but a fortuitous turn of events has given fans hope.
The 23-year-old has been at the centre of a greatly publicised falling out with head coach Unai Emery, a situation Milan will no doubt have noticed. In the past the Rossoneri have benefited from situations such as these, signing Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano and the aforementioned Ibrahimovic in similar scenarios. While the task at hand may be insurmountable, it isn’t an impossible one and will depend very much on the willingness of Verratti to join an exciting new project in his native homeland. Adrien Rabiot and the previously mentioned Pastore have also been linked with moves to Milan in the past, but lack the same appeal as Verratti.
A return for Ibrahimovic may only be possible post-retirement at this stage, but Thiago Silva is a name fans would be clamouring to see back in the red and black jersey. The 32-year-old may be entering the twilight of his playing career, but would certainly be capable of seeing the Rossoneri through a return to prominence both in Italy and in Europe. His affection for the club has rarely been questioned, but strong interest from Juventus, demands from Paris Saint-Germain and his commitment to his current club could present complications. Nevertheless the Brazilian remains in the thoughts of those with close ties to Milan.
Many feel these are the kinds of purchases Milan need to be making to return to their former glory. However, having accomplished so much in recent years in introducing young players to the first team, reverting back to a squad of ageing stars would be just as catastrophic. Finding the right balance will require excellent judgement and a great amount of luck. Regardless of whether big names do arrive immediately the consensus seems to be Milan are moving in the right direction; albeit at a slow but certainly confident pace.