Milan Have Too Many Players: Departures Are Urgent
The numbers are on the table, clear and undeniable: AC Milan enter the 2025-26 season with a squad of 33 players — an unsustainable figure given the 25-player registration limit set by league regulations. At least eight players must leave the club before the summer transfer window closes in early September.
Despite this being known for weeks, the outgoing market remains virtually stalled as of early August. Every passing day makes the situation more complex: with other clubs watching and waiting, the real risk is being forced to settle for loan deals rather than permanent transfers, forgoing significant financial resources in the process.
The Names Earmarked for Departure
Among the players for whom solutions are being sought, several profiles stand out clearly. Yunus Musah, the American midfielder who has never fully convinced, is one of those expected to move on. The same applies to Fikayo Tomori, the English centre-back who endured an inconsistent campaign and does not appear to feature in the manager’s plans. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, another English midfielder already on the fringes of the project, is also firmly on the transfer list.
Added to this mix is the situation surrounding Pervis Estupiñán, the defender for whom a move to Aston Villa had previously been mooted. That opportunity may have faded: the Villans reportedly turned their attention to Marcos Ruggeri instead, making it harder now to find a suitable destination for the Serbian centre-back.
The Derby Sends a Message: Some Players Don’t Belong at Milan
The Perth pre-season clash against Inter — the derby that ended 1-1 — provided valuable insight from a transfer perspective too. Certain players confirmed they are not aligned with the tactical demands of manager Ruben Amorim, particularly in terms of defensive organisation and pressing structure. The first half showed 20-25 minutes of good football with organised pressing and clear ideas, but Inter took over in the second period, scoring from a defensive error that exposed the shortcomings of some squad members.
The defensive phase remains a work in progress: in Serie A, where every goal conceded can cost crucial points, Milan cannot afford systematic lapses in concentration. The manager has acknowledged that there is still a great deal of work to be done across all areas — build-up play, pressing and possession management are the three pillars on which the remaining pre-season weeks will focus.
Incoming Transfers Are Not Enough: Exits Must Come First
The summer window had opened with encouraging signs: the arrivals of Mario Gila and other reinforcements gave the impression of a decisive and proactive Milan. But momentum slowed, and the priority has now shifted firmly to outgoing business. As the club’s hierarchy is well aware, further signings cannot realistically proceed until the squad is trimmed — both in terms of numbers and wage bill.
Will Milan manage to resolve all the pieces of the puzzle before early September? The answer depends on the management’s ability to close deals that today still look far from done. One thing is certain: time is running short, and the coming days will be decisive for the shape of the Rossoneri squad heading into the new season.
