The spotlight falls once again on Mattia Liberali, one of the most interesting talents to emerge from AC Milan’s youth academy. The young attacking midfielder, who enjoyed a positive season with Catanzaro in Serie B, could soon be ready for a step up. However, the structure of the deal that took him to Calabria raises some financial questions from Milan’s perspective.
The transfer to Catanzaro and the inserted clause
Liberali is no longer Milan’s property: his transfer to Catanzaro has already been completed on a permanent basis. However, at the time of the deal, the Rossoneri had the foresight to insert a clause guaranteeing 50% of any future transfer fee. That clause is set at €6 million, meaning that if the player moves to another club — even in Serie A — Milan would receive €3 million.
Who has shown interest in Liberali?
According to the latest reports, at least a couple of Serie A clubs have expressed concrete interest in the midfielder. Como and Sassuolo — the latter having just been relegated and looking to rebuild around young, quality profiles — are said to have made enquiries. Liberali, a regular in the Italian youth national teams, has all the attributes needed to establish himself at the highest level of professional football.
Three million euros: is that enough?
The central question is this: €3 million for a player of his calibre is low. Very low. Liberali is young, technically gifted, still with considerable room to grow, and already in the frame for Italy’s under-age squads. Letting him go permanently — under a structure that nets Milan only €3 million — is a decision that, in hindsight, is hard to justify from either a sporting or financial standpoint.
The player’s choice and why a loan was avoided
In fairness, it must be acknowledged that Liberali himself had expressed the desire not to go out on loan. He had witnessed the careers of former Milan academy teammates — such as Lorenzo Colombo and Tommaso Pobega — who spent several years drifting around on loan without finding a permanent home. The decision to make a permanent move to Catanzaro, with the guarantee of regular playing time and responsibility, is therefore understandable from the player’s personal development perspective.
An opportunity that could have been handled better
From Milan’s perspective, however, the contractual structure could have been built in a more protective way. A 50% share of a €6 million clause means giving up a significant portion of the value generated by the Rossoneri academy — a youth system that has historically produced world-class talent and deserves more careful financial management. With a more robust leadership structure in place, Milan would arguably have been able to negotiate better terms or find alternative solutions — perhaps a loan with an obligation to buy at a higher fee. We will see where Liberali ends up next season and whether his upward trajectory continues at the same pace.
