A painful season — but one that could mark a real turning point
Finishing a season outside the Champions League is a result no Milan fan wanted to accept. And yet, the most important turning points in the history of great clubs are often born precisely in moments of greatest difficulty. AC Milan knows this well: the club has won everything, hit rock bottom and always got back up. This time will be no different — provided the right actions are taken, with clarity, courage and the right people in charge.
The second half of the season: where it all went wrong
This Rossoneri campaign told a tale of two very different halves. In the first part of the season, Milan showed encouraging signs, picking up valuable points and hinting at a squad capable of competing at the top. In the second half, however, the team completely fell apart, putting up a points-per-game tally more reminiscent of a relegation battle, wiping out all the good work done earlier in the year.
Such inconsistency is never accidental: behind it lies a structural problem, touching on squad depth, technical management and the ability to adapt to the unexpected twists of a long season. These are areas the next leadership cycle must address as a matter of absolute priority.
RedBird and the ownership question: clarity is needed
In the post-season debate, the topic of ownership has come to the fore. Jerry Cardinale and RedBird Capital find themselves at the centre of criticism from sections of the organised fanbase, who point to a cultural and strategic distance from the reality of Italian football. Supporters want clear signals: who will lead AC Milan in the near future? With what vision? With what plan?
Rumours of a possible sale of the club have been circulating for some time, but the timing remains uncertain. In the meantime, what matters is building a solid management structure capable of making considered, project-focused decisions. No more summits or statements of intent: concrete choices and competent figures are what is required.
The squad: the summer transfer window is critical
Another central issue is the composition of the squad. After a disappointing season, a significant portion of the group will need to be renewed. The summer 2026 transfer window looks set to be one of the most delicate and decisive moments in the club’s recent history.
Quality additions are needed — profiles with experience and a hunger to prove themselves, capable of giving the team the playing identity that was so clearly missing this season. But above all, a top-level sporting director is required: someone with a strong network of contacts and a clear vision of what kind of Milan they want to build.
Milan is bigger than all of this: the renaissance is possible
Beyond the controversy, the whistles and the understandable disappointment, one fundamental point must be restated: AC Milan remains one of the most glorious and decorated clubs in the history of world football. Nineteen league titles, seven European Cups/Champions League trophies, three Intercontinental Cups/Club World Cups: a trophy cabinet that few clubs anywhere in the world can match.
That greatness does not disappear in one bad season. It is there, ingrained in the club’s history, its culture and in the hearts of millions of fans around the world. And it is from that greatness that the new Rossoneri era must take its cue.
As we have already analysed in detail when examining the possible revolution in AC Milan’s structure, the direction towards a genuine change of course now looks inevitable. What matters is that future decisions are driven by competence, passion for the project and a full awareness of what it means to wear that shirt.
Milan will return to the Champions League. Milan will fight for the Scudetto again. This is not romantic wishful thinking: it is a certainty rooted in the history of this extraordinary club. The road is mapped out — now it must be walked with the right steps.
