In this discussion about the future of AC Milan, we can see that the legendary club is at a critical turning point. With tonight's fierce clash with Inter Milan, the decisive derby for the Serie A title will undoubtedly put a lot of pressure on current manager Stefano Pioli. Stefano Pioli's goal is clear: to prevent his opponents from celebrating on their own turf.
Meanwhile, Milan's future is in the hands of new owner Gerry Cardinale. The representative of the American fund is expected to attend the battle in person and conduct a series of in-depth talks and decision-making meetings after the game in order to draw a new blueprint for AC Milan. One of the most pressing tasks is to find a suitable new coach to lead the Rossoneri back to the top.
Fans are eagerly awaiting former Juventus and Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte to take over the reins and become the ideal successor to Stefano Pioli. Michelle Cristierlo, a well-known sports journalist, has also been a keen advocate for this view, and has made an even bolder and thought-provoking proposal to invite former Milan CEO Adriano Galliani back.
Cristiano believes that Galliani, with his wealth of experience and excellent leadership, is more than capable of leading Milan back to league dominance. Although he is in his seventies, his ability to manage, strategic plan and build the course is unmatched. Imagine that with Galliani as CEO, Zlatan Ibrahimovic as technical director, and Antonio Conte in the dugout, Milan will form a fantastic management team that is likely to rise again and compete for all the honours.
In addition, Cristiano also pointed out that although Galliani currently has a deep emotional bond with Monza, his love for AC Milan is just as strong and his return could lead to an exciting revival. Such an idea has undoubtedly injected infinite imagination into the future of Milan, and also made the majority of fans full of expectations for the glory of this century-old giant.
Adriano Galliani, born on 30 July 1944, is a legendary Italian football manager who has left a deep mark on Italian and global football with his leadership and business savvy. During his tenure at AC Milan, he played a key role in the development of the Italian giants, as Vice Chairman and CEO of the club. Under his stewardship, AC Milan has won the European Cup and UEFA Champions League five times in Europe, as well as eight Serie A titles at home. Not only that, Galliani, with his keen insight and superb transfer operation skills, has brought a large number of world-class stars to AC Milan, further consolidating the team's position in international football.
On March 27, 2021, Galliani was hospitalized for the novel coronavirus, but eventually managed to overcome the disease and recover and be discharged from the hospital, which once again shows his resilience. Then, in November 2022, his career was highly recognized by the industry, winning the CEO Career Award at the 2022 Globe Football Awards, and back in 2011, he was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions.
When it comes to Galliani, people will always talk about one of his anecdotes - the story of "Galliani and the bicycle". At the beginning of August 2014, Galliani, then a senior member of AC Milan, appeared in the public eye in an unusual way, riding an ordinary bicycle and appearing on the streets with Manuel Quelung, Diego López's agent. Galliani's casual outfit contrasts sharply with Keelung's suit-clad silhouette, but behind this lies his unique transfer strategy.
Soon, AC Milan successfully brought in goalkeeper Diego López, who was playing for Real Madrid at the time, with zero transfer fees. Pressed by the media, Galliani responded wittily: "In the transfer market, you need to be patient and keep in close contact with your agent. It's like a bicycle race, and the winner is the one who has the last laugh. He added, "When I learned that there was a situation between Diego López and Real Madrid, I acted quickly and now he is one of us. A zero transfer fee doesn't mean less value, and wouldn't it be a better option to get the same players for free?"
That year, Galliani only spent more than 10 million euros to complete the signing of more than a dozen new signings, including some excellent players who were free of transfer fees. It is no exaggeration to say that he has assembled a strong starting line-up made up entirely of players with zero transfer fees, including Diego López, Almero, Mex, Alex, Zaccardo, Muntari, Montolivo, Essien, Mane, Torres and Keisuke Honda. Such an operation not only demonstrates Galliani's unique wisdom in the transfer market, but also further proves his outstanding talent and far-reaching influence in the field of football management.