AC Milan’s ongoing turmoil is just one of many signals of the growing instability in Italian football. Peppe Di Stefano is convinced of this, as he analyzed the Rossoneri’s situation, the role of American capital, and Stefano Pioli’s struggling season at Fiorentina during a radio interview.
The Sky Sport journalist believes the issue extends beyond AC Milan. “Today I was thinking, how many clubs are truly calm and well-organized? The answer I got is quite telling: how many clubs are genuinely in order? Nowadays, being normal has become abnormal. Everything is constantly changing: management, coaches, players,” he stated.
Di Stefano emphasized how modern football has completely altered the timeline for planning. “In the past, sporting directors and coaches would stay for five, six, or seven years. Now, a single transfer window can see thirty ins and outs,” he noted.
Regarding AC Milan, his assessment was clear. In the journalist’s view, RedBird Capital’s management follows a specific philosophy. “AC Milan is now a club run by a fund. And funds move money. The primary goal isn’t to win the Scudetto, but to qualify for the Champions League. Anyone who doesn’t follow this line, no matter what, will be excluded from the project,” he explained.
His reasoning also included the case of Paolo Maldini, who was let go by the Rossoneri management even after winning the Serie A title. “AC Milan’s victory was almost a coincidence, because Inter Milan were weakened and Juventus had a poor season. But that’s the logic of a fund,” Di Stefano said.
Di Stefano then revealed an inside detail involving Fabio Paratici. “AC Milan had chosen Paratici. Two weeks ago, there was a meeting on Lake Como with Jerry Cardinale and Giorgio Furlani. They were already preparing the documents. Then the suspension issue stopped everything. As of today, that’s all there is. However, there could be some changes within AC Milan,” he disclosed.
According to the journalist, AC Milan’s management structure remains extremely chaotic. “I’m not sure AC Milan will be entirely in Furlani’s hands. I’m not sure Ibrahimovic will have the same role. I wouldn’t rule out Cardinale deciding to take full control and ultimately build a Milan that is truly his,” he said.
In closing, Di Stefano also touched on Stefano Pioli’s disappointing season at Fiorentina, showing great human compassion for the former Viola coach. “I have immense respect for Pioli, especially as a person. But clearly, it was a wrong choice on both sides. Perhaps Pioli wasn’t the right man for Fiorentina at that time, and perhaps Fiorentina wasn’t the right project for him,” he said.
According to Di Stefano, the issue isn’t the coach’s quality. “Some seasons start badly and end badly. It starts with boos and ends with boos. I think this was one of them,” he added.
Finally, he shared a personal observation about the Parma coach. “I saw Pioli a few months ago, and he is still deeply affected by that experience. He’s not someone who doesn’t care. I personally like him a lot, and I hope he can smile again soon,” Di Stefano concluded.
