The streets of Milano reflect a deeply divided footballing metropolis following the dramatic conclusion of the domestic season. For AC Milan, a campaign that began with Scudetto ambitions ended in heartbreak as they missed out on Champions League qualification on the final matchday, triggering a complete clearance of senior management and the technical area. In stark contrast, Inter celebrated a historic domestic double under the guidance of "made in Inter" coach Cristian Chivu, a feat that echoed Jose Mourinho's legendary 2010 treble season, despite missing out on European silverware.
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Subscribe Sekarang →According to reports from Tuttosport, AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale has chosen a radically different path from his cross-town rivals by initiating a complete structural overhaul. Alongside his senior advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cardinale displayed decisive leadership by replacing previous club directors and appointing former Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim as the new manager-mananger. Amorim, whose arrival in Milano is highly anticipated, is tasked with executing a clear directive: "We want to play to win, rather than not to lose, in everything that concerns Milan, but above all on the pitch."
Despite intense fan protests across the city—featuring mobile billboards demanding the American ownership to "Go away! Put an end to this agony"—Gerry Cardinale has flexed his financial muscles. Even without the financial windfall of Champions League revenues, AC Milan has already authorized a massive 100 million Euro spending spree. This includes a historic, record-breaking 74 million Euro package for Paris Saint-Germain forward Gonçalo Ramos, who will soon be joined by defender Mario Gila in a deal estimated at no less than 25 million Euros.
Based on recent market assessments, Inter overseen by Beppe Marotta and the Oaktree capital fund finds itself in a contrasting financial reality. While Inter has spent 30 million Euros to secure the return of Filip Stankovic, redeem Manuel Akanji, and acquire Ivan Provedel, the club has missed out on key targets like Marco Palestra. The American fund has struggled to land a major "media signing" to ignite the fan base's imagination, with targets like Anan Khalaili, Trevoh Chalobah, and Curtis Jones failing to generate significant enthusiasm among the Nerazzurri faithful.
Editorial team observations indicate that Oaktree's greatest merit this summer has been the preservation of Inter's core squad, having only lost Denzel Dumfries due to a restrictive release clause. With the imminent renewal of Pio Esposito, Inter looks to lean heavily on the exceptional squad foundation built during the Suning era. Even without blockbuster summer arrivals, the reigning double-winners are widely considered the favorites to start in pole position for the upcoming Serie A campaign.
The aggressive summer overhaul by AC Milan has created a bizarre paradox within Italian football. While fans traditionally protest against owners who refuse to spend, the Rossoneri faithful continue to demonstrate against an ownership group that has just launched two major transfer fireworks. Whether Cardinale's high-stakes gamble or Oaktree's calculated continuity will triumph on the pitch remains the ultimate question for the upcoming season.