Zvonimir Boban’s return to Milan is a real possibility, as he is expected to have an important role at the club, taking care of political affairs as well as having a say on sporting matters.
Paolo Maldini and Ivan Gazidis are putting together a new management to lead Milan into the future, and it seems that another Rossoneri legend is on his way to the offices at Casa Milan – Zvonimir Boban.
As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sportmediaset, Sky Italia, Milannews.it, RadioRossonera’s Pietro Balzano Prota and others, the return of Boban appears to be on the cards.
Boban has been FIFA’s Deputy Secretary General for 3 years, he holds a key role in the administration of Gianni Infantino’s FIFA; in fact, Infantino reacted to the news of Boban returning to Milan, joking with Sky that “I’ll tie him, or rather chain him, to the Eiffel Tower”, so he doesn’t leave him.
Maldini met with the Croatian director two days ago in complete secrecy and according to the media, the former Diavolo captain has convinced Boban to leave his prestigious role at FIFA to join the project of Elliott. Milannews.it’s Antonio Vitiello reports that Boban would be a sort of General Manager at Milan, a vice of Gazidis, who would help in the technical-sporting issues, but also use his experience in FIFA and his reputation in the world to deal with the political side of things.
Boban’s arrival would therefore leave CEO Gazidis to deal mostly with the financial aspects of the club. il Corriere della Sera’s Monica Colombo believes that Zvone’s return is only a matter of time, and it appears that the only thing missing is the final OK of FIFA to release Boban to join Milan.
Boban, who used to work as a pundit for Sky Italia, was never afraid to criticize the work of those who were in charge of Milan in the past few years, most recently criticizing Massimiliano Mirabelli and Marco Fassone’s 2017 mercato, which saw Milan spending over €220m in one summer.
Now he will have a chance to change from within. It’s hard to imagine that he’d leave his current role if he didn’t believe in the project presented to him by Maldini in the name of Elliott.
This is a great move by Maldini. Boban will be a good fit for this role.
Now let’s get Atalanta sporting director Giovanni Sartori because he can find talented young players in his sleep season after season and Atalanta is selling club. He’s a milanista too as he played for Milan in the 70s.
His work is amazing. I can’t think of a player from Atalanta that I’m not impressed with. I would take the majority of their squad especially Gianluca Mancini and Timothy Castagne.
Boban was always one of my favorite players and I’ve liked most of what he’s said off the pitch regarding Milan too. The Maldini effect has begun and I like it. Just hope him and Gazidis can be as sensible when it comes to choosing a coach.
Well the coach has already been chosen and it will be announced next week. It looks like Giampaolo will be the man in charge.
Ah okay, didn’t realize it was that certain. Be good to see Milan play attacking football for a change if nothing else.
Things seems to be falling into right places for Milan. Am no longer keen about big name signings as those unknown prospects will blossoms into super stars. I am really excited, even the prospect Of Giampaolo is mouth watering as the only coach I will prefer to him now is the Atalanta manager. Lets hope for the best folks.
Great news, Boban is a very resonable person with some very good connections in FIFA just what we need. I hope it will be official soon.
Could we please stop with the ex-players, and start dealing with current players ? Every summer it’s the same story – Inter, Juve and Rome start their dealings while we shuffle meaningless managerial positions. Are we using these legends only a smokescreen to hise the fact that we will be impotent in the market?
I was thinking the same. So tired of all these management BS. Yes, its very crucial but to what end if we need to re-evaluate our squad list first and foremost. Most of the top clubs are already making deals happen. I am so frustrated looking at Inter right now. They had the Conte deal done right even before the last round of the season and now they are talking to player agents..ughh!
But like you say(I have to finally agree with you), looks like this summer is gonna be all smokescreening.
So you think that hiring our legend Maldini at the top , with an other legend who happened tonbe FIFA’s Deputy Secretary General , is just a camouflage for some shitty work ? If it was so , neither Maldini nor Boban would’ve accepted this role. Why would someone leave such important post in FIFA for an uncertain or mysterious project ?! That’s a great sign for a healthy start , and we will absoluetely need his contacts to get us out of this FFP shit. Besides that , Gattuso , Leonardo , Kaka and more people who knows football… Read more »
Dear friend,
I think you didnt get the point. yes i agree all the legends and management is important. All we’re trying to say is that this summer we’re only going witness this debacle week after week most probably. Which means we will have less time focusing on the cards at hand(players). And the cards at hand need to be shuffled more than the hands holding them.
@Assim…Totally agree. Besides the only club that has made a major signing so far is Real Madrid and they just signed Luka Jovic.
Juventus haven’t even confirmed Sarri yet and Roma are still negotiating with Shakhtar Donetsk for Paulo Fonseca. So we are not lagging behind any teams in regards to transfer market activity.
Milan need to fix things at the top first before we can focus on rebuilding the squad for next season. It’s only logical that they are working on getting the “right “ people in place so that they can work in harmony with the coach. There are rumors that Milan are already lining up Joachim Andersen and Praet from Sampdoria per Giampaolo’s request. Sampdoria has already rejected a bid from Arsenal for those two players possibly due to a gentleman’s agreement with Milan. Since the official announcement hasn’t been made yet to appoint a Sporting Director and a coach, Milan… Read more »
Nick, I don’t know how you can be so relaxed with the rumors going on? Giampaolo, Anderson, and Pratt (aka who, who, and who) in to replace Gatusso, Donna, and very likely Kessie and/or Suso. Juve are linked with SMS, Inter with Lukako, and Milan with Pratt … To me, this looks like the final shot to put this dead horse called ac milan out of its misery.
@Baresis Dream….Well, I can honestly tell you that I’m relaxed because I’m optimistic about the choices Milan is making so far at the top. Giampaolo has a coaching philosophy that is in Milan’s DNA. We have won all of our major trophies in Serie A and European Cups playing a 4312 formation. Sacchi used it and so did Capello and Ancelotti. That tells me that Maldini and company are putting a lot of thought into the coach and players we will sign to play the style of football that made this club great. If we look at teams like Ajax… Read more »
Nick mate, 1. Milan won with the diamond 4-4-2 when they had the players for it; formations don’t win championships, players do. Currently we don’t really have a proper squad for any formation. The diamond 4-4-2 really hinges on the number 10 (aka Kaka), and so far I haven’t seen anything from him to suggest he can carry a team to the top 4 spots. Heck, he spent most of his career in Brazil playing in a deeper position. And do you see 20 goals a season from either Cutrone or Silva at the moment? 2. The Ajax/Atalanta model works… Read more »
*… haven’t seen anything from him – I mean Paquetta not Kaka of course.
Of course. I believe Paquetá will show his true worth next season especially if he has a good performance at the Copa America in Brazil.
Agreed. formations don’t win titles but it gives a team an identity which Barcelona has with a 433 for example. They have never played any other formation and they continuously build their team around a 433 system because that’s Barcelona’s identity. Milan is the same and only Sacchi and Capello used 442 occasionally but we have always played with two strikers. Ancelotti used the 4312 or the Christmas tree formation 4321. Milan’s biggest problem since Allegri left is that every coach including Montella and Gattuso have experimenting all season with different formations which is why the team has struggled. What… Read more »
Grande Zorro!
So happy that he’s linked with Milan again.
I like his attitude.
We definitely need more men like Maldini and Boban, and less like Fassone and Mirabelli.
Forza Milan!
This is great! things are looking up for Milan