As soon as I logged in and saw 1500+ new comments I immediately knew something bad happened... We're in a such tough spot these last years with mercato/budget/reinforcements that I didn't even dare to think we maybe signed someone good today.
Still, didn't expect quite this, to be honest. Not today at least. I wrote several days ago about this, that it does not bode well for your club when your SD & coach are demanding transfer funds through media from your owner. I said even than that these "meetings" between hierarchy regarding mercato and whatnot should've happened long time ago, and in this day and age it was possible to communicate it amongst eachother in many different ways...
Different ways, that's what this is all about. Cardinale told us already his vision, it's just that we wouldn't/couldn't accept it so we chose not to see it. He went on and on about his project in Toulouse, basically saying he wants a Dortmund/Leipzig-type club.
We hinged our hopes on Paolo being here and fighting for our interests and he certainly did try, but we all know we cannot go on like this, when your owner is not in synch with his suboordinates. And Maldini, as much of a legend he is and forever will be, is still Redbird's employee, unfortunately.
Even last summer, those 2 barely came to an agreement and right then and there it was a win-win for Gerry, because he knew either we'll flourish or we'll be underwhelming (which came to be unfortunately) so he can put his own people in charge.
Of course he won't touch Pioli, bc Pioli is a yes man, no matter he did beg for better players this one time at the end of a season. But he will work with what he is given and be thankful he's still here. Be it Tare (who already worked with Pioli) or Moncada or whoever, to Gerry it's fundamental it's someone who'll share his vision, and that is buy young/low and develop, step 2: profit.
Gerry is a bussiness-man, he's not an enthusiast like Berlu was (even though Berlu also had other agendas). He needs his men to do the work they're given, not to confront his decisions. You think Galliani even now dare to say anything to Berlu?
I knew Maldini was a goner when he tried to put pressure before our CL SF on Gerry, demanding more investment. It was a desperate move and a clear indication that their vision of this clun and for this club vastly differ. Boban did an exact same thing with Elliot, reasoning he's bigger than them, and no one is bigger than those that are paying for their salaries.
Of course, no owner is bigger than Milan or any other elite club. What is fortunate for us is that we are still in a strong league so Redbird cannot sell our assets yearly (this is not Bundesliga where you'll be top 4 barring a disaster) but will definitely want to do so intermitently. And in all honesty - that's how it's done these days, if you're not Real/Barca/Arabs. And for the last 15 years we're not and will not be for some time, unless we're bought by Saudis or someone, but we're now "too successful" and expensive for them unfortunately.
Players come and go, like managment, but the club stays. Who ever is going to be our new SD - if we win Serie A 2024 he'll be celebrated. Same thing applies for Redbird. We kept Maldini, Pioli, Leao, Theo, Mike etc. and finished fifth. When all is said and done, if we sold every one of them last summer and was now celebrating scudetto no 20 - no one would mind. It's just that we'll lose that family atmosphere wit Maldini around and also that identification with certain players he practically raised (like Theo)... But that's the price you must oay, if you're Milan fan, unfortunately. I came to terms with it around 2010 that it's never going to be like it was during Berlu's golden years. Look at other top clubs, not one of them have it's on legend in a decision-making role except Bayern (and we all saw how that end up). It's not a coincidence. It's a bussiness now, it's a product. And if it's going to be a good product - no one will complain.
Mind you, I still stand by what I wrote the other day: this way (the Gerry way) will bring us OCCASIONAL success, but no way we'll be able to dominate like Juve did. I'm sinceriously praying I'm wrong, but I've been with this club for 30 years now and the writing was on the wall for some time now.
Thanks for the memories Paolo, I watched you play for 16 years, I watched you lift a scudetto, I think you did all you could in this circumstances. Enjoy yourself now, there's not going to be a shortage of suitors for you and Massara.
P.S. People thinking Redbird would dream to offer a some kind of role to Ibra of all people, wake up. They had issues with Maldini, who's forte is diplomacy. Imagine outspoken Ibra after a "meeting" where he's told he needs to sell our best players, headkicks would fly.
I think this should put an end to a debate on Maldini's "failings" regarding Kessie (if not also Hakan & Donna), bc it's clear he had his hands tied and operated within a constraints of a probably lot smaller figures than we're informed. Of course management cave in to Leao, bc they can sell him for 100+ mil, and that sound rings even in Gerry's murican money-whoring ears
