Italy’s Serie A has been a one team league as of late. Sure, Roma and Napoli have made valiant attempts at securing the Scudetto, but it has been Juventus’ kingdom. They’ve ruled over their territory maniacally, sucking up the division’s best players and laying waste to Italy’s best. However, one storied team has been left by the wayside in the late aughts and early teens of our new millennium. AC Milan endured some embarrassing public tribulations organizationally that turned what was once one of Europe’s most feared sides into an afterthought. Now that most of that bureaucratic hubbub is behind them, the focus is now on the pitch. The Rossoneri are in the midst of a radical reset with its eyes on big things. AC Milan just doesn’t want to be relevant again, they want alpha dog status in Serie A back.
If you’ve just recently gotten into Serie A, the club won’t likely be one on your direct radar. Last year’s sixth place finish was their best over the past four seasons. Instead of being a destination club, Milan was a place for retreats and loan players unwanted elsewhere. AC Milan went from top of the heap to the scrap heap. But Milanistas still had high hopes for the squad each year. In recent times though, club president Silvio Berlusconi met those hopes with a swift back heel to reality. Club legends came and went so fast in the manager’s role it was hard to keep track who was at the helm on a weekly basis. It was full circle for Berlusconi. He came to Milan in dark times, built them into a superpower, only to leave them in murky waters.
Besides Juve, several teams pushed past Milan in the Serie A pyramid. Napoli became a second tier Champions League outfit. Roma continued to churn out young talent and provide ample competition. But none possess Milan’s pedigree. When I began following football, Milan was THE team from Italy. Every Italian kid in my town supported them. This summer has them on course to reclaim that mantle again.
It may not have begun with it, but retaining goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was the first thing Milan had to do this summer. The teenage wonder keeper had links to numerous top level clubs including Manchester United and Real Madrid. Epic swap deals became the topic of conversation, but none came to fruition. Instead, Donnarumma pledged his immediate future to the club (and got his big brother a permanent gig as well in the process). To minimize the impact of retaining a young talent of Donnarumma’s ilk in today’s global market is naive. In my eyes, it was a sign that Milan’s respect in the marketplace was on an uptick. That sign’s clarity has sparkled even more over the past few weeks.
The roster has gone through a severe overhaul. Unlike past summers though, this transformation has manager Vincenzo Montella raving about the upcoming campaign. Over 75% of his starting XI from 2016-17 will very likely change on opening day for 2017-18.
Milan lacked bite in the attack last season. Their 57 goals were smack dab in the middle of the Italian pecking order. Bayer Leverkusen’s Hakan Calhanoglu‘s arrival gives the forwards a playmaker they’ve lacked in recent seasons. The 23-year-old Turkish midfielder’s versatility affords the club flexibility with their front lines. He thrives out on the wing or in a center attacking midfielder role. Hakan is lethal in set pieces from any range whether it be passing or getting the ball on frame.
Adding to that attack is Porto forward Andre Silva. The 21-year-old Portugal international netted 20 times between Liga NOS and the Champions League last year for the Dragons. He will bring stability to a forward unit that has lacked identity and seen many of their youngsters venture out on loan. The signing of Silva allows them to make final decisions on the likes of Suso and M’Baye Niang. Adding Fabio Borini on loan from relegated Sunderland is key for depth at the position as a super sub and in cup competitions. All this added firepower is a godsend for Carlos Bacca, who at times was overwhelmed at striker having to make something from nothing for goals.
The biggest coups thus far have been in the defense. Juventus have built their Serie A empire on defense and it seems as if Milan is finally looking to follow suit. Hell, they took one of Juve’s brightest stars to do it. Leonardo Bonucci’s move to the San Siro is the crown jewel of what will be a revamped back line. It was a transfer completely out of nowhere, but nevertheless, it is one that will fast forward the timetable for success.
The 30-year-old will be joined by fellow countryman Andrea Conti. Conti, one of Italy’s standouts at the Under-21 level, shined for an Atalanta side last year that finished fourth and conceded the fourth fewest goals in the division. He’s a terrific wing back who has the size to help centrally in a pinch. He’ll be the heir apparent to vice captain Ignazio Abate, a man who has lacked a proper deputy in Milan’s recent dry spell.
But it wasn’t just those two big Italian splashes entering Milan’s defensive ranks. Left back Ricardo Rodriguez joined from Wolfsburg. Rodriguez is a highly experienced Swiss international and is just as comfortable staying back in a 4-3-3 or as a wing back depending on how Montella deploys his squad week to week, half to half. Center back Mateo Musacchio made the move from Villarreal. He pairs up nicely with Bonucci centrally and for the moment is over his injury woes.
Milan doesn’t seem done yet though. They snapped up Lucas Biglia from Lazio to sit in front of the new back sentinels. The news is circling that Chelsea may miss out on another striker as Alvaro Morata is more likely to make a switch to Italy rather than England. If not Morata, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has his former employers on his transfer shortlist in his ongoing saga with Borussia Dortmund. Fees are the only hold ups at the moment. Bayern Munich’s Renato Sanches, Torino’s Andrea Belotti, and many others are also in the cards. These are just those in the news though. It’ll be interesting to see what further reinforcements are made over the next couple months to keep Milan’s trajectory to the Serie A apex.