Paratici speaks to Corriere della Sera: the untold story of the Milan negotiation
A revelation set to shake the Rossoneri world. Fabio Paratici, currently sporting director at Fiorentina, gave an interview to the Corriere della Sera in which he unveiled significant behind-the-scenes details about the deal that was supposed to bring him to AC Milan as the new sporting director last summer.
Two agreements reached and then collapsed
The Italian executive did not mince words: “We had closed the deal with Milan twice within 15 days, only the signature was missing”. His words confirm what had been circulating in the Rossoneri environment for some time — that the club had identified Paratici as the ideal profile to lead their sporting department. According to reports, Giorgio Furlani had chosen him as the top target to strengthen the club’s executive structure.
At the time, Paratici was serving a ban related to the capital gains scandal at Juventus, set to expire in mid-July. Work behind the scenes could have already begun, but the official announcement would only have come after July 15th.
Marotta’s alleged involvement and competing narratives
Several theories have emerged about why the deal collapsed. The most high-profile one involved Giuseppe Marotta, current Inter president, who had worked closely with Paratici at Juventus and was well aware of his qualities as a director. According to this version, Marotta allegedly did everything possible to prevent his former colleague from landing on the Rossoneri side of Milan.
Paratici, however, cooled this theory with a telling quip: “I don’t know, I don’t think it was him. He denied it, I didn’t call him. What could I have said? ‘Was it you?’. And what could he have answered? ‘No, of course not’”.
The other version is more pragmatic and points to financial and contractual matters. Paratici reportedly asked Milan for solid project guarantees, an appropriate salary and a well-defined contract. The club ultimately decided not to commit under those conditions and pulled back.
Milan’s sporting director search: a bumpy road
With the Paratici option off the table, the Rossoneri reportedly turned to Tony D’Amico, Atalanta’s sporting director, but he could not be released by the Bergamo-based club either. Milan therefore lost precious time in choosing the head of their technical area, and this delay inevitably affected their transfer dealings last summer.
When a sporting director starts working late, the most sought-after transfer targets slip away, and this was one of the factors that characterised Milan’s transfer campaign last season. A chapter now firmly closed, from which the club has drawn important lessons for the future.
Paratici praises Allegri: “The most intelligent of all”
In the same interview with the Corriere della Sera, the director now at Fiorentina spoke highly of Massimiliano Allegri, calling him “the most intelligent of all” and highlighting how his extraordinary ability to build relationships with players makes the difference in managing a top-level dressing room.
Source: Corriere della Sera
