AC Milan is exploring the possibility of signing 19-year-old Real Madrid defender Victor Valdepenas, who can play both as a centre-back and left-back. The interest is strong, and relations between the two clubs are good.
The Italian championship is very nice and difficult, with excellent coaches and very strong teams. For circumstances that I cannot know, the Italian national team is not making, however, at the club level, I have a lot of respect for Italy.
Milan are evaluating a low-cost defensive profile that would potentially cover multiple roles and save money for other departments. Leite's versatility would be useful for the Rossoneri.
Milan have learned from the blows they suffered when Gianluigi Donnarumma, Hakan Calhanoglu and Franck Kessie all left on free transfers. Since those, the management have worked hard to renew anyone whose contracts are entering the final couple of years, to avoid repeats.
Milan has decided to renew their trust in technical director Jovan Kirovski, who will continue to serve as the key figure for the U23 side, despite a stint in Italy marked by mixed results so far.
Milan's latest investments haven't worked out, with Christopher Nkunku and Santiago Gimenez both arriving in the past 18 months but showing inconsistent contributions and low goalscoring returns.
Having served a ban while at Spurs and having now returned to Serie A to become Fiorentina's sporting director, Paratici gave a long interview to Corriere della Sera in which he revealed that he was actually very close to joining. 'Not in talks. We had closed the deal. Twice in the space of a fortnight, all that was missing was a signature. Then they told me it was over.'
Most likely, by the end of the season, Igli Tare will leave. The relationship with AC Milan never took off, from certain market choices, to certain statements, starting from the summer and the famous Gimenez chaos. Hard to see it continuing.
When I came to Milan, I went inside the locker room just by myself. I saw the photos and the names around the locker room. I said 'wow'. In front of me, I have Kaka, Seedorf, Pirlo, Gattuso is here, and Maldini. Ronaldo, too. I say 'wow'. I need to play it cool. It was amazing.
