One week on from the sweeping revolution ordered by Gerry Cardinale — which led to the dismissal of the club’s entire sporting and managerial leadership — AC Milan finds itself in a delicate transitional phase. No chief executive, no sporting director, no technical director, no head coach: an unprecedented situation for a club of Milan’s stature and history.
Calvelli and the delegated powers: a caretaker awaiting confirmation
On the operational side, the powers previously held by Giorgio Furlani have been formally transferred to Calvelli following the most recent board meeting. This stopgap solution ensures managerial continuity, but does not amount to an official appointment. Calvelli is not yet the CEO in the full sense, even if he is effectively performing the role. The formal completion of the new management structure remains one of the club’s most pressing priorities.
Rangnick and Glasner: the preferred tandem
It is in this context that what can rightly be called the most important week of Milan’s summer begins. Direct contacts — phone calls and video conferences — are scheduled with Ralf Rangnick, identified as the candidate for the technical director role, and with Oliver Glasner, the Austrian coach who could work alongside Rangnick as first-team manager. The underlying idea is a dual-track model: Rangnick shaping the project from above, Glasner managing the squad on the pitch — an approach that echoes successful Central European football structures.
The Arne Slot option
Within the club, however, there is no single line of thinking. One faction is pushing for an alternative route: Arne Slot, the Dutch coach recently sacked by Liverpool. His last season in the Premier League fell well short of expectations — the Reds finished fifth despite a significant transfer outlay at the start of the campaign. Even so, Slot’s profile retains considerable weight at the international level, and contacts with his representatives are expected during the course of this week.
The existence of competing schools of thought within the club’s decision-making process is a variable that must be managed carefully. Finding a shared direction will be crucial if Milan are to accelerate the rebuilding process.
Ibrahimović heads to the United States
Adding a further layer of complexity to the picture is the imminent departure of Zlatan Ibrahimović for the United States, where he will be working as a pundit and commentator at the World Cup. The Swede, who holds no formal role within the Milan hierarchy as a RedBird representative, will be away from Milan for around forty days. In the meantime, he was spotted alongside Gerry Cardinale and Luís Figo at the Champions League final in Budapest — a sign that behind-the-scenes networking is continuing at pace.
For more on Rangnick’s position and Calvelli’s emerging role in the new Rossoneri setup, see our dedicated feature published in recent days.
Milan have the resources, the history and the ambition to rebuild in style. This week will be the first true test of that resolve.
