AC Milan – Italy Football Club – News

Posted on July 8, 2025 by SoccerPunter

AC Milan’s new manager, Massimiliano Allegri, has confirmed that Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić will join the Rossoneri in August following the conclusion of the FIFA Club World Cup. The move ends Modrić’s illustrious 13-year career with Real Madrid.

“Modrić will arrive in August. He is an extraordinary player,” Allegri announced during his first press conference since returning to manage Milan.

The 39-year-old, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, will sign a one-year deal with Milan worth approximately €3.5 million per season, with performance-related bonuses and an option to extend for another year.

Modrić had already announced in May that he would depart Madrid after the Club World Cup. Real Madrid are currently preparing to face Paris Saint-Germain in the tournament’s semifinals on Wednesday, with the final scheduled for Sunday.

Allegri, returning for his second stint with the club after replacing Sérgio Conceição in May, also confirmed several key squad changes. Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has transferred to Manchester City, while French left back Theo Hernández is close to a move to Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.

Modrić’s arrival marks a significant signing for a Milan side aiming to bounce back after a disappointing 2024-25 season. The club finished eighth in Serie A, missing out on European qualification.

📅 Season Overview: Fixtures & Results

• Serie A
  AC Milan finished 8th in the league, ending a tumultuous campaign with 47 points from 38 matches . The season began with high anticipation but descended into inconsistency and underachievement.
• Coppa Italia
  The team reached the final but lost 1–0 to Bologna on 14 May 2025, narrowly missing out on European qualification.
• Supercoppa Italiana
  A bright moment came on 6 January 2025, when under new manager Sérgio Conceição, Milan upset Inter 3–2 to win the trophy.
• UEFA Champions League
  Milan progressed from the group stage but were eliminated by Feyenoord in the knockout playoff (1–0 away, 1–1 at home).

⚽ Tactical Fluctuations & Managerial Shake-up

• Coaching Carousel:
  • Started under Paulo Fonseca, who lost the dressing room after a poor run and a public rift with Rafael Leão.
  • Replaced on 30 Dec 2024 by Sérgio Conceição, who immediately claimed the Supercoppa but struggled to instill consistency.
  • Conceição departed at season’s end (29 May 2025) following the cup final defeat and failure to qualify for Europe.
• Tactical Identity:
  Under Conceição, the side adopted a high-press, proactive game, but defensive lapses and mental fragility—especially red cards in key European fixtures—undermined progress.

🔴 European Disappointments

• Champions League Group Stage: Mixed fortunes, highlighted by a spirited 3–1 victory at Real Madrid and a strong showing against Dinamo Zagreb, but punctuated by errors like Mike Maignan’s costly slip at Feyenoord , .
• Playoff Elimination:
  A Theo Hernandez red card in Rotterdam and previous dismissals (Yunus Musah vs Dinamo Zagreb) sealed Milan’s downfall on aggregate, prompting Conceição to accept responsibility.

🧑‍✈️ Player Highlights

• Christian Pulisic:
  Top scorer with 11 league goals and 17 across all competitions, including four in Europe .
• Rafael Leão:
  Started rocky under Fonseca but regained form—key in the Supercoppa, winning two decisive duels and contributing goals in Europe.
• João Félix & Alvaro Morata:
  Big-money signings that failed to make expected impacts, part of recruitment criticised by fans and media.
• Others:
  Defenders Theo Hernandez and Fikayo Tomori saw mixed results; discipline issues overshadowed defensive work.

📉 Fan Backlash & Leadership Crisis

• After finishing 7th (potentially dropping to 8th), fans at the San Siro unveiled a “GO HOME” tifo aimed at RedBird Capital Partners, citing poor recruitment and management.
• Criticism intensified around Zlatan Ibrahimović’s involvement in transfers and coaching decisions, seen as overreach.
• With no European football secured via league or cup, this marks the first time since 2015–16 Milan will not compete in Europe by sporting merit.

📊 Statistical Glance

• Serie A: 47 points, 8th place, goal difference around +10.
• Champions League: ~15 goals scored, 13 conceded; 53.6% possession.

✅ Final Thoughts & What Comes Next

AC Milan’s season was a tale of unfulfilled promise—silverware early on, but never translating into league or European success. Despite flashes of talent from attackers like Pulisic and Leão, defensive instability, managerial upheaval, poor signings, and fan unrest left the campaign ultimately disappointing.

Key questions loom heading into 2025–26:

• Who takes the helm next?
• Will the club overhaul its recruitment strategy?
• Can the glue hold between defense and attack under fresh leadership?

Milan’s hierarchy, especially CEO Giorgio Furlani and owners RedBird, face a critical off-season to realign ambitions with performance—starting with restoring European status and reconnecting with a disillusioned fanbase.