AC Milan owner Jerry Cardinale returned today to the club’s headquarters at Via Aldo Rossi, approximately one month after his last visit to the city. His return has not gone unnoticed, arriving at a critical juncture as the club builds its squad ahead of the new season.
The Transfer Market Summit at Via Aldo Rossi
The last time Cardinale had been seen in Milan was at the end of May, on the occasion of the match against Cagliari, when an extraordinary board meeting triggered a major management overhaul — resulting in the departures of Tare, Furlani, Moncada and the separation from Allegri. Since then, the American owner had been spotted in Rome, the United States and London, but not at club headquarters.
Today the RedBird owner met with the new management structure he himself helped shape. Around the table: Bobby Gardiner, promoted to Director of Football Intelligence, Alex Almstad, confirmed as head of player trading, and Massimo Calvelli, who has taken on the role of CEO with all the operational powers previously held by Giorgio Furlani.
The New Chain of Command and Signing Authority
With this setup, Milan has outlined a technical committee structure to lead transfer operations. One notable detail concerns Calvelli’s signing authority: the new CEO will be able to independently authorise deals up to €10 million. For higher-value acquisitions — such as those worth €15m, €20m or even €30–40m — the direct signature of Cardinale or president Paolo Scaroni will be required.
This detail underlines why Cardinale’s physical presence in Milan at this stage is no coincidence: with major negotiations open, his signature may soon be needed to finalise significant operations. It is likely that today’s summit also served this concrete operational purpose, in addition to officially consolidating the new organisational chart.
It should be noted that Cardinale spent approximately a month trying to bring in external executives — names that circulated included Ragnick and Markus Krösche, sporting director of Eintracht Frankfurt — without ultimately concluding any deal. The outcome was an internal promotion of figures already at the club and under contract.
A Transfer Window Behind Schedule That Must Pick Up Pace
The summit comes at a time when Milan’s transfer activity is noticeably behind schedule compared to other top European clubs. We are now at the end of June and many high-level sides have already completed the bulk of their incoming business. Milan needs to recover ground quickly, starting from a disadvantaged position that makes every decision even more urgent. Cardinale’s presence may be the clearest signal yet that the clock is ticking and the club is ready to move decisively.
For a deeper look at how the new technical committee works, read the full breakdown of the structure that will guide Milan’s transfer market.
