Antonio Conte is the right man to lead AC Milan regardless of who becomes the next sporting director, according to Antonio Vitiello.
It is far from a media secret that Milan are planning some big changes in the summer, including the appointment of a new sporting director and a change in the head coach role. It is perhaps natural given that the team are ninth in the league, with the current structure not working.
There have been countless names linked with both positions, from Igli Tare, Fabio Paratici and Giovanni Sartori for the former, plus Max Allegri, Maurizio Sarri and Conte for the latter. In the coming days and weeks, crucial decisions must be made to shape Milan’s future.
Vitiello published his weekly column for MilanNews and in addition to speaking about the club’s desire to sign a new winger, he touched on the sporting director/head coach issues.
“There is great anticipation for the appointment of the new sporting director of Milan. It is the first step towards the restart of next season, when a new coach will arrive and the team will be worked on to change many defects,” he said.
“Fabio Paratici’s name has faded despite a verbal agreement reached between the parties, the main candidate to date remains Igli Tare, the only one without ties to other clubs and for this reason an official contact is expected between Giorgio Furlani and the former Lazio director.
“In the next few hours a meeting between the parties will take place that could lead to a white smoke. Tony D’Amico remains a valid alternative, but Atalanta would first have to be convinced to let him go, as the director of the Bergamo team is tied to a contract until 2027.
“The same goes for Giovanni Sartori, one of the best DS in Italy, the one who left his mark at Chievo and Atalanta, and is now doing so at Bologna as well. A considerable effort would be needed for him, because at the moment the Bolognese club has no intention of letting him go, but it would be right to start again with football men and experienced people.
“So Tare remains the simplest solution, because he is free from contractual constraints and could sign in a few hours. But after the arrival of the director we need to get serious about the coach and the name we have been pushing for weeks is that of Antonio Conte.
“Even the Rossoneri fans, not all of them obviously, would prefer the Apulian coach at the helm of Milan. Secondly, a return of Max Allegri, also an expert and pragmatic coach. No gambles.”
