The future of Ismael Bennacer looks increasingly distant from Milanello. The Algerian midfielder, currently on loan at Dinamo Zagreb, will not be bought outright by the Croatian club due to financial constraints — but Zvonimir Boban, the legendary former Milan midfielder now holding a key role in Zagreb’s management, has publicly expressed his desire to keep the player. The sticking point remains the contractual tie with AC Milan that needs to be unravelled first.
Boban: «I Want Bennacer, But He Must First Resolve His Milan Contract»
Speaking on the sidelines of a Dinamo Zagreb board meeting, Boban made his stance clear: «I think Bennacer’s future is still with us and I believe he wants to stay, but he needs to resolve his contract with Milan first». The message is unambiguous — Dinamo want Bennacer, but not at the price AC Milan are asking, which has been deemed unsustainable for the Croatian club’s budget.
The most likely resolution, therefore, is a mutual termination of the contract between Bennacer and Milan, possibly with a financial settlement. A scenario that the Rossoneri have handled before with outgoing players, and one that would represent the cleanest path to unlocking the situation swiftly.
Bennacer’s Milan Cycle Has Long Been Over
In truth, the Bennacer chapter at Milan had already come to a natural close. The Algerian midfielder, who arrived from Empoli in the summer of 2019, played a key role in the club’s 2021-22 Scudetto triumph, but subsequent injury struggles — most notably a lengthy knee problem — interrupted his upward trajectory. When he was loaned to Marseille the previous season, Bennacer himself had said he felt his time in Milan was over. His spell at Dinamo Zagreb has done nothing to change that picture.
With Rúben Amorim set to shape the technical identity of the new-look Milan, the chances of a Bennacer return appear virtually non-existent. The midfielder is firmly among the outgoing players that the club must manage during this summer transfer window.
Milan’s Outgoing Transfer List: Several Issues to Resolve
Bennacer is far from the only case on the table. Milan have several players to either sell or assess ahead of next season. Names circulating on the departure list include Samuel Chukwueze and Yunus Musah, along with players returning from loan spells such as Warren Bondo and Filippo Terracciano, who will need to be evaluated during pre-season before a permanent destination is found.
The most pressing question, however, remains one of governance: without an officially appointed sporting director, there is a real risk that negotiations drag on. Names like Jovan Kirovski, Gardiner and Calvelli are currently linked to the operational side of Milan’s transfer activity, but a clear and recognised point of reference is still missing. Milan knows what needs to be done — the hope is that the club’s leadership structure comes together as quickly as possible to tackle this transfer window with the strength and clarity it deserves.
