AC Milan Rebuild Their Defence: Amorim Eyes Gonzalo Inácio and Lisandro Martínez
AC Milan have a clear plan: the upcoming transfer window will bring a top-level reinforcement to the backline. The Rossoneri, now guided by new head coach Rúben Amorim, are prepared to invest significant funds to strengthen their defensive unit, and two names are consistently emerging from transfer circles: Gonzalo Inácio of Sporting Lisbon and Lisandro Martínez of Manchester United.
Both players are currently involved with their respective national teams at the World Cup, underlining their elite credentials. Contacts with their respective entourages have reportedly already been initiated, with Amorim — characteristically hands-on in transfer negotiations — knowing both profiles very well from first-hand experience.
Gonzalo Inácio: Amorim’s Protégé from Sporting Lisbon
Gonzalo Inácio, 24, is a Portuguese central defender who shared part of his career with Amorim at Sporting Lisbon. Last season he racked up 29 appearances, 2 goals and 4 assists, proving himself a modern, attack-minded defender. The Portuguese centre-back stands at 185 cm, already has an established international profile and is a regular starter for the Portuguese national team.
His contract with the Lions runs until 2030, which gives Sporting a strong negotiating position. The price tag will not be modest: valuations suggest a figure of around €40 million. A significant investment, but one in keeping with the ambitions Milan intend to project during this rebuilding phase.
There is an additional factor worth noting: Gonzalo Inácio is represented by the AS1 agency — the same agency that manages Rúben Amorim himself, along with other major Portuguese football figures such as Bruno Fernandes and Luis Díaz. A shared representation could smooth negotiations and speed up any potential deal.
Lisandro Martínez: The World Champion and Former Ajax Star
The second name is that of Lisandro Martínez, the Argentine defender currently at Manchester United whom Amorim had the opportunity to manage during his time in the Premier League. A World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, Martínez is 28 years old and carries a wealth of top-level international experience: he has worn the shirts of Ajax, Manchester United and the iconic Albiceleste.
His physical profile differs from Inácio’s: Martínez stands at roughly 175 cm, but more than compensates with his defensive intensity, reading of the game and a commanding personality that makes him a feared opponent. In the season just concluded he made 18 Premier League appearances, in a campaign not entirely free of injury concerns.
The Argentine’s contract at United runs until 2027, and the English club — currently in a period of transition — may hold less negotiating leverage than Sporting Lisbon, particularly given that Martínez is not an undisputed starter at Old Trafford. This could translate into greater flexibility on the final transfer fee.
One of Two: Milan Will Pick the Right Reinforcement for Amorim
Two names, but Milan will sign only one. The Rossoneri hierarchy is actively working on both fronts, with contacts already underway. Meanwhile, the Antonio Silva from Benfica track — another defender linked to Milan — has cooled in recent hours: the Portuguese club is said to have offered the defender a new contract, effectively putting the brakes on any talks with the Rossoneri.
Between Gonzalo Inácio — young, technically refined, already shaped by Amorim — and Lisandro Martínez — experienced, a world champion and a player the coach knows inside out — the choice will not be straightforward. But Milan have shown the determination to act decisively, targeting profiles of genuine international calibre. The defence of the future is being built right now, and Amorim wants the right building blocks in place.
