Amorim and Cardinale: The Milanello Summit and the Manager’s Demands
The countdown has begun. With the summer transfer window closing in, AC Milan is working at full speed to complete a squad that, in the words of Ruben Amorim himself, still needs targeted reinforcements. The Portuguese manager met owner Gerry Cardinale at Milanello yesterday in a summit focused precisely on the squad’s needs ahead of the new season.
Amorim was clear: at least two signings are needed to make the squad competitive. The first profile requested is a quality trequartista, the second is a reliable central defender. Two positions that currently show obvious gaps in the squad at the manager’s disposal. Cardinale’s response is expected in the next ten days — what could be the decisive window in shaping the final face of Milan’s 2025-26 side.
The Leão Situation: The Portuguese Winger Remains on the Market
Rafael Leão continues to train separately from the group. Milan’s stance has not changed: the Portuguese attacker is on the market and the club is actively seeking a solution to sell him. There have been approaches from Premier League clubs — reports mention Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham — but so far no official bids have arrived from any of them.
The only concrete proposal on the table comes from Galatasaray, which does not meet Milan’s valuation: the club wants no less than €50-60 million for Leão, a figure that has stalled negotiations so far. The situation remains at a standstill but could break open in the final days of the window. The topic had already surfaced in the recent Mendes-Milan summit at Casa Milan.
The Four Outcasts: Giménez, Tomori, Fofana and Nkunku Frozen Out
Amorim’s hard line is already a reality. Santiago Giménez, Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana and Christopher Nkunku are training apart from the squad and are officially outside the technical project. An unambiguous signal came from the club’s official submission of squad numbers to Lega Serie A: the four players’ names do not appear on the list.
Notably, the number 7 shirt, worn by Giménez, remains unassigned and could be handed to a future signing during this window — a further confirmation that the split is final. As already reported, Giménez appears set for a loan to Porto.
One figure worth noting: adding up the transfer fees paid for these four players at the time of their arrivals, the total exceeds €125 million. A rough breakdown puts it at approximately €40m for Nkunku, €30m for Tomori, €30m for Giménez and €25m for Fofana. These numbers illustrate the scale of the club’s decision: sidelining players representing such significant investment is a clear and determined break, driven by tactical, technical and behavioural reasons.
Transfer Window Verdict: Everything Depends on What Comes Next
The summer window is not yet closed and the final verdict on Milan’s transfer business will only be possible once all deals are done. If the club manages to land the trequartista and central defender Amorim has asked for, the summer of 2025 can be considered a positive one. If not, the gaps in the squad will remain plain to see.
What is certain is that the Rossoneri hierarchy — with Cardinale at the top — must now prove in concrete terms their willingness to build a squad worthy of the club’s ambitions. The fans are waiting for answers through actions, not words. And the next ten days may well be the most important of the entire Milan summer.
