AC Milan looking to get off on the right foot

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This article was published 18/08/2017 (3296 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

AC Milan will kick off its much anticipated Serie A campaign away to Crotone on Sunday.

Given its sixth-place finish last season, the match will come more than three weeks after the team began its competitive schedule against Craiova in the third qualifying round of the Europa League. It’s unlikely Milan will be playing meaningful soccer so early a year from now.

Following a convoluted, 10-month sale process that saw Chinese businessman Li Yonghong and his Rossoneri Sport Luxembourg consortium purchase the club, Milan has enhanced the squad to the tune of more than 200 million euros ($296 million) — the sort of investment they desperately needed from previous owner Silvio Berlusconi but that, in the latter years of his patronage, the former Italian prime minister was unwilling or unable to commit.

As a result, the Rossoneri now have a roster that should ease into the Champions League (Italy once again has four spots in the sport’s premier club competition) and seriously contend for a first Scudetto since 2011. Juventus have won all six titles since, but Milan may have tipped the balance of power in the poaching of defender Leonardo Bonucci from the Bianconeri.

Readers may recall that following the restart of June’s Champions League final, Juventus barely resembled the side that had earned a 1-1 half-time split with Real Madrid. Bonucci, it has since been reported, went berserk in the dressing room, accusing forward Paulo Dybala of a poor first-half performance and trading punches with fellow centre-back Andrea Barzagli. The Italians were visibly dispirited throughout the second 45 minutes and conceded three goals.

Now, despite an apparent lack of leadership skills it is nevertheless beyond dispute that Bonucci is among the best defenders in the world. He was of vital importance to the ongoing Juventus dynasty and his transfer considerably strengthens Milan while severely weakening its main rivals.

Against Crotone, it’s likely he’ll play alongside Mateo Musacchio in a newly assembled defensive corps. Andrea Conti and Ricardo Rodriguez — one of Europe’s elite left-backs — will flank them. Combined, the quartet cost Milan 100 million euros ($148 million).

If manager Vincenzo Montella’s midfield at Stadio Ezio Scida isn’t similarly new-look, it’s only because Lucas Biglia, acquired from Lazio, is injured and will be watching from the stands. Rossoneri veteran Riccardo Montolivo will operate in his place, attempting to thread some commonality between Hakan Calhanoglu and Franck Kessie. Calhanoglu scored six goals and assisted five for Bayer Leverkusen last season; Kessie is already being likened to Rossoneri icon Gennaro Gattuso.

When Biglia is fit, Montella will have a midfield trio worth 60 million euros ($88 million).

Up top, Milan is already benefiting from the goal-scoring acumen of Portugal striker Andre Silva, who notched a brace on Thursday at home to Shkendija. Just 21, Silva already has eight international goals to his name and found the back of the net 21 times for Porto last season. Fabio Borini, having arrived at San Siro via Sunderland, also scored against the Macedonians.

The two were acquired for more than 40 million euros ($59 million). They’ll be joined in attack by the exciting Suso.

Finally, backing it all up is 18-year-old superstar goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who recently signed a lucrative new contract with Milan and convinced the club to re-sign his older brother, Antonio, from Asteras Tripolis. The younger Donnarumma has so far played four times for Italy and is the legendary Gianluigi Buffon’s heir apparent.

“This is practically a whole new squad,” Montella said, after watching his players thrash Shkendija 6-0. “But,” he added, “the lads are working hard and I am happy.”

There could be much to be happy about at AC Milan this season, even if expectations are high. Can the team meet or exceed those expectations? That’s the 200-million euro question.

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