La Gazzetta dello Sport hailed ‘professional’ Christian Pulisic after Milan‘s 3-1 loss against Torino, but the pink paper urged the Rossoneri to replace Fikayo Tomori ‘if this was his true version.’

Milan suffered an away 3-1 loss against Torino on Saturday night, which was pretty disappointing even though Stefano Pioli’s men have mathematically qualified for the Champions League as Serie A runners-up.

Their latest loss to Torino, their 7th in 37 games this term, led to criticism from the media on Sunday and English centre-back Tomori was among the most exposed.

Pulisic the light in Milan’s darkness, but Tomori must be replaced on one condition

Gazzetta rated the ex-Chelsea man 4.5/10, highlighting that he had lost key duels, which led to two Torino goals. ‘If this is his true version, Milan will need a defensive leader,’ wrote the pink paper in their Pagelle, the Player Ratings.

The whole Milan squad was pretty disappointing and clearly less motivated than their opponents.

Only Marco Sportiello, Tijjani Reijnders and Alessandro Florenzi received 6/10 from Gazzetta, while Pulisic was the best Milan player on the pitch with 6.5/10.

Gazzetta praised the American star not only because he earned a penalty kick in the second half, but primarily for his DNA as a ‘professional.’

Corriere dello Sport had the same view, given that Pulisic was described as the ‘light in Milan’s darkness’. At the same time, Tomori and his defensive partner Malick Thiaw received the lowest ratings: 4.5 for both.

Stefano Pioli hit out at Milan critics and reminded them how things improved since he took over five years ago. ‘People act like second place is suddenly shoddy.’

The coach is under contract until June 2025, but it has been known for months now that he will be fired at the end of the season.

This search for a successor drags on through the media and is on the front pages every day, but Pioli is frustrated at his treatment.

“It was a good season, we were the best of the ‘normal’ teams behind an Inter side who did something extraordinary,” Pioli told DAZN.

“Our regrets are in the Champions League and Europa League, but that’s what those tournaments are like, if you don’t take your chance in that moment, you can go out.

“Just look at Borussia Dortmund, who finished 25 points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, yet will play in the Champions League Final.”

The Pioli era at Milan

Pioli was hired in October 2019 and took them to an entirely unexpected Scudetto in 2022, where he was also named Coach of the Year.

Last season he took the Rossoneri to the Champions League semi-final, losing to rivals Inter, and this term already has second place locked down in Serie A.

“Over these years, we raised everyone’s expectations and now people act like second place is suddenly shoddy. You know full well that is not the case. Only one team can win.”

While he would seem to be on the way out, Pioli did get a tattoo of the Scudetto symbol on his arm.

“This remains. Honestly, I wanted to wait until next week to sum up the experience, but I think I can say one thing. I evaluate my work based on what condition I find a team in and then again when I leave.

“I arrived with Milan in one situation and I leave – if I leave – with Milan in quite another. The rest is just lots of talk and not much content.”

In his four full seasons at the club, Pioli’s Serie A finishes were two second places, one Scudetto and fourth in 2022-23.

Before he took charge, the last time they managed second place was in 2011-12 and their most recent title was in 2010-11.

La Gazzetta dello Sport

Inter, celebration and chaos

At San Siro against Lazio to celebrate the Scudetto

Zhang accuses the fund Oaktree: ‘They put the future of the club at risk’

But the owners could hand it over

Toro for the Cups

Milan flattened, now Europe is closer

Atalanta in the Champions League

Motta, the final clash against Juve

Allegri in court?

Tomorrow against Bologna

Il Corriere dello Sport

Zhang’s surrender

On Tuesday the deadline for the 375m loan: no extensions

‘Stability is at risk’

Oaktree have Inter in hand

Steven’s concerns: ‘Every effort to reach an amicable solution has been exasperated by legal threats. We want to protect the club colours’

This evening there is Lazio

‘I will decide after the Final’

Gasp takes the Dea into the Champions League: Napoli are waiting

Atalanta win 2-0 in Lecce

Coach: ‘What counts for me is the challenge. Future? Bayer first’

Toro crush Milan (3-1): they are now ninth

Roma–Genoa

De Rossi raises the bar: ‘Something has to change’

‘A strong coach gets the players he wants. For six years this team hasn’t gone beyond fifth place’

Guardiola: a poker to enter history

If Manchester City beat West Ham, Pep will win his fourth consecutive Premier League title

Sprint finish with Arsenal

Tuttosport

Motta’s Juve? French style

Reinforcements, tactical system: project ready to take flight

Todibo and Thuram of Nice are objectives for defence and midfield

Meanwhile Montero prepares to lead the team in Bologna

His maxim: ‘Fairness matters in life, but in football I have to win’

Fantastic Next Gen: 3-1 in Caserta, progress in the play-offs

Zhang’s star is shattered

From the Scudetto to chaos within the club: Inter towards a turning point

No agreement with Pimco: this adventure is on its last legs

Strong Suning statement against Oaktree, who are ready to take control of the club and confirm faith in management guided by Marotta

Atalanta in the Champions League

Rejoice, Toro! Europe is right there

Milan flattened (3-1) and Napoli leapfrogged

Zapata, Ilic and Rodriguez seal a fabulous Granata night

Now they need to win in Bergamo to be certain of 9^th place

And then hope Fiorentina triumph in the Conference League Final

Banners against Cairo and players

Juric: ‘I won’t change my mind, there is too little joy here and too much controversy’

Ivan Juric insists that even if Torino qualify for Europe after beating Milan 3-1, it will not change his decision to leave. ‘There is no joy here.’

The Granata knew they needed a victory to keep their slender hopes of European qualification alive and achieved it, slicing the Rossoneri defence open with Duvan Zapata and Ivan Ilic free headers.

Ricardo Rodriguez then hit a screamer off the underside of the crossbar just 18 seconds into the second half, though Adam Masina’s futile foul on Christian Pulisic allowed Ismael Bennacer to convert a penalty for the 3-1 final result.

Toro had not put three goals past Milan in a Serie A match since April 1959.

“It was a good performance, we wanted to win, now we are up there and will try to get a victory in the last game too,” Juric told Sky Sport Italia.

“We recovered this season after a shaky start and are satisfied.”

Juric calls time on Torino career

This was the final home game of the season and also the last for Juric as coach of the Granata, because he is expected to walk away when his contract expires on June 30.

Could qualifying for Europe change his mind about this?

“No, there simply aren’t the right conditions to continue here. I like unity, but even with a fabulous season here there was non-stop controversy and criticism. I would like more joy and there isn’t joy here.

“There were protests all the time, against the President too, but it was a bit of everything. You try to change things, but after a while you realise it’s pointless. It was right for us to try to go for Europe, we had a fantastic three years.

“We had a good time together working with the players, it was all the rest that was disappointing.”

This means Torino leapfrog Napoli into ninth place and can qualify for the Conference League if they either overtake Fiorentina too, or if the Viola win the Conference League Final against Olympiacos on May 29 and therefore go into the Europa League instead.

Stefano Pioli feels a 3-1 defeat to Torino is Milan’s season in a nutshell, but insists he has not spoken to Napoli, though his future has been speculated on for ‘too many months.’

The Rossoneri have nothing more to gain from this season and it showed, both in the choice of starting XI and the attitude as they were torn apart 3-1 by Torino.

Duvan Zapata and Ivan Ilic were allowed embarrassingly free headers in the first half, then Ricardo Rodriguez hit a scorcher in off the underside of the bar just 18 seconds into the restart.

Ismael Bennacer’s penalty for an Adam Masina foul on Christian Pulisic was little consolation.

“Even though the result is harsh considering they only had four shots on goal, we were distracted and not focused enough on those crosses in the first half,” Pioli confessed to Sky Sport Italia.

“We lost a lot of the individual duels and this is the direction the game went in. It’s not that we didn’t play, but they were more focused and determined in the incidents that decided the match.”

Does resting stars like Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud show that Milan still lack strength in depth, particularly compared to rivals Inter?

“We were the best of the ‘normal’ teams this season, as there was one team that did something extraordinary, and we did better than the others. It’s not about first choice players, but Torino gave it a bit more tonight that allowed them to get to the loose balls first, reach the crosses and headers first.”

Pioli tired of Milan and Napoli speculation

Next weekend will be Milan’s final match of the campaign and many expect the last on the bench for Pioli, so how is he feeling?

“It is the last game of the season and then we’ll see. People have been talking about this for many months, too many months, and the team did very well. It was not easy to follow a coach who was in this situation, so I congratulate them for that.

“There is a week to go, I’ll experience that week and then we’ll see.”

Did Pioli want Milan to be more forceful in defending him in the media over these months or did he feel abandoned by their silence?

“I did not have difficulties because the squad remained united and concentrated on the work. Inter did something exceptional, we did better than the others, so it was still a good season. There are regrets over the Champions League and Europa League, but for the rest we were up to the standards of everyone except for Inter.

“As a person, I tried to go through it with balance and to pass on that to the squad. I was not affected by things certain people said. I know my level and that everything in this world is exaggerated, so I just carried on along my path.”

If Milan score two goals against Salernitana at San Siro, it can be the best attacking tally for a Pioli side, but it is already the worst defensive record of his five years at the club.

“I think these are significant statistics. Tonight was an example of our whole season defensively, we allowed four opportunities and conceded three goals. I realise that conceding too many goals penalised us many times this season and was our biggest weakness.”

Does Pioli expect to be informed of his future before the final game so the Milan fans can give him a fitting salute?

“I am not angry with anyone. In my five years at Milan, we always met after the end of the season, so I don’t know what will happen next week.”

Having been linked with Napoli, Pioli was jokingly asked if he would prefer his next club to be in the south and perhaps by the sea?

“I have not spoken to any other club. If and when my rapport with Milan ends, but not before, as I have too much respect for this club and its fans. My contract still runs for another year, I’ve had five wonderful, intense years and I am just concentrated on ending the season.

“Then, if there are any situations, I will evaluate them.”

Torino sliced Milan’s defence apart with two free headers and a Ricardo Rodriguez scorcher to keep their European hopes alive and leapfrog Napoli into ninth place.

The Rossoneri continued to revamp after securing second place, leaving Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud on the bench, while Mike Maignan, Simon Kjaer, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Samuel Chukwueze were injured, Matteo Gabbia suspended and Theo Hernandez struggling with flu symptoms. Toro missed Nikola Vlasic, Koffi Djidji, Gvidas Gineitis and Perr Schuurs, but Alessandro Buongiorno and Duvan Zapata passed fitness tests.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

Adrien Tameze wasted a golden opportunity when ballooning over undisturbed from 12 yards on the Pietro Pellegri pull-back, then Vanja Milinkovic-Savic intercepted the Noah Okafor assist for Christian Pulisic at the near post.

Okafor went so close with a curler inches past the far top corner after a Tijjani Reijnders counter-attack, but it was Toro who took the lead moments later.

Ricardo Rodriguez whipped in a cross from the left and Duvan Zapata was allowed a totally free header between Milan centre-backs from 12 yards into the far bottom corner of the net.

A ball in that was just begging to be headed into the back of the net

Duván Zapata adds the finishing touch to a wonderful searching ball from Ricardo Rodriguez… Milan trail to Torino!

@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/wUbBn8util

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 18, 2024

Christian Pulisic nodded over, but Torino doubled their lead with what was incredibly an even freer header than the first. Raoul Bellanova’s cross from the right found Ivan Ilic so unmarked, he didn’t even need to jump, merely steer it in from 12 yards.

Ivan Ilić makes it two for Torino against Milan…

How about the turn from Pietro Pellegri dropping into midfield?

@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/2q71IcfdRZ

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 18, 2024

Yunus Musah saw his rocket accidentally charged down by teammate Malick Thiaw, but within 20 seconds of the restart it was 3-0. Former Milan player Rodriguez unleashed a left-foot rocket off the underside of the crossbar from 20 metres out after the Rossoneri were sluggishly caught in possession.

Ricardo Rodriguez unleashes a rocket against his former club

Torino are tearing through Milan!

@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/bhnFIHvFkl

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 18, 2024

Pulisic thumped his shot against the bar from the edge of the area, but it wouldn’t have counted anyway, as the referee gave a free kick for an earlier push on Buongiorno.

Milinkovic-Savic stood tall to deny Luka Jovic on the Pulisic slide-rule pass, but Adam Masina gave away a penalty when hooking Pulisic across the neck, so Ismael Bennacer converted from the spot.

Ismaël Bennacer sends the keeper the wrong way after Christian Pulisic was brought down in the box…

One back for Milan

@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/j1InSfyK8E

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 18, 2024

Marco Sportiello struggled to deal with a looping Duvan Zapata header and Tameze intercepted a dangerous counter-attack for Rafael Leao, but Luka Jovic shinned his over-head kick off target.

Late on, Rafael Leao went on a trademark solo run to cut inside from the left, but his shot was parried by the goalkeeper.

The Torino shot-stopper also kept out Fikayo Tomori’s header in stoppages, but it wouldn’t have counted over a push.

Torino 3-1 Milan

Duvan Zapata 26 (T), Ilic 39 (T), Rodriguez 46 (T), Bennacer pen 54 (M)

18-05-2024 19:45

MatchDay 37

Olympic Grande Torino Stadium

Torino

Milan

3 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Duván Zapata (Assist: Ricardo Rodríguez)		26'
Ivan Ilić (Assist: Raoul Bellanova)		40'

2nd half

Ricardo Rodríguez (Assist: Pietro Pellegri)		46'
		55'		Ismaël Bennacer
		76'		Fikayo Tomori
Samuele Ricci		90+5'

Match statistic

40

Possession %

60

11

Total shots

16

5

Shots on target

4

5

Shots off target

7

1

Blocked shots

5

3

Corners

8

2

Offsides

15

Fouls

14

Torino

Milan

Starting lineups

32

Vanja Milinković-Savić

Goalkeeper

5

Adam Masina

Defender

4

Alessandro Buongiorno

Defender

80'

19

Raoul Bellanova

Defender

74'

13

Ricardo Rodríguez

Defender

61'

61

Adrien Tameze

Midfielder

8

Ivan Ilić

Midfielder

77

Karol Linetty

Midfielder

28

Samuele Ricci

Midfielder

91

Duván Zapata

Attacker

11

Pietro Pellegri

Attacker

74'

57

Marco Sportiello

Goalkeeper

23

Fikayo Tomori

Defender

28

Malick Thiaw

Defender

20

Pierre Kalulu

Defender

38

Filippo Terracciano

Midfielder

65'

4

Ismaël Bennacer

Midfielder

78'

14

Tijjani Reijnders

Midfielder

80

Yunus Musah

Midfielder

77'

11

Christian Pulisic

Attacker

15

Luka Jovic

Attacker

17

Noah Okafor

Attacker

61'

Substitutes

26

Koffi Djidji

Defender

1

Luca Gemello

Goalkeeper

21

David Okereke

Attacker

81

Aaron Ciammaglichella

Midfielder

15

Saba Sazonov

Defender

71

Mihai Popa

Goalkeeper

25

Alessandro Dellavalle

Defender

17

Uros Kabic

Attacker

79

Zanos Savva

Attacker

30

Jonathan Silva

Midfielder

27

Mërgim Vojvoda

Defender

61'

9

Antonio Sanabria

Attacker

74'

20

Valentino Lazaro

Defender

74'

6

Matteo Lovato

Defender

80'

16

Mike Maignan

Goalkeeper

83

Antonio Mirante

Goalkeeper

2

Davide Calabria

Defender

30

Mattia Caldara

Defender

7

Yacine Adli

Midfielder

85

Kevin Zeroli

Midfielder

95

Davide Bartesaghi

Defender

10

Rafael Leão

Attacker

61'

42

Alessandro Florenzi

Defender

65'

9

Olivier Giroud

Attacker

77'

32

Tommaso Pobega

Midfielder

78'

The release clause for Milan and Arsenal transfer target Benjamin Sesko is now set at €65m after he concluded the season with RB Leipzig.

The centre-forward has an unusual clause set in his contract which climbs depending on his performances during the campaign.

It was able to escalate from €45m to a maximum of €72m, but today the season came to a close and therefore the clause has been set at €65m for this summer.

Sesko hot property

Sesko found the net 19 times along with three assists in all competitions for RB Leipzig and is expected to be hot property on the transfer market.

His profile could grow even more when Slovakia participate in the EURO 2024 tournament from June to July.

Milan and Arsenal are known to have Sesko on their wish-list and have both held meetings with his entourage already.

The two clubs really do seem to be going for the same targets, as they are also expected to battle on the market for Bologna centre-forward Joshua Zirkzee.

It was revealed this week that Zirkzee’s €40m release clause is not only valid for Bayern Munich, but for any club who comes along.

It is now confirmed that Atalanta, Bologna, Juventus, Milan and Inter qualify for the 2024-25 Champions League, but it is still possible Serie A could get a sixth slot.

La Dea got the three points they needed this evening with a 2-0 victory away to Lecce at the Stadio Via del Mare, which guaranteed their place in the top five.

It is a return to the Champions League after a three-year absence for the Bergamo boys, who are gearing up for Wednesday’s Europa League Final against Bayer Leverkusen.

That means Atalanta cannot be caught by Roma and Lazio, so the confirmed Italian entries for the Champions League are Inter, Milan, Juventus, Bologna and Atalanta.

Serie A still in with chance of six slots

However, it is still possible for Italy to have a sixth place in the new, expanded tournament, but only if certain conditions are met.

They need Atalanta to win the Europa League Final on May 22, but also to finish in fifth place.

If Atalanta manage to overtake Bologna or Juventus into fourth, then victory in the Europa League will become irrelevant.

This is because the ‘extra’ slot rules were drawn up before the season began and go to a team who finish outside the top four in Serie A.

As it happens, Serie A already managed to get a fifth bonus slot thanks to their superior club ranking, so does not ‘count’ for calculating the Europa League victor’s qualification.

https://twitter.com/footballontnt/status/1791890353051598964

While Milan may not be interested and Bayern Munich directors deny a deal, Roberto De Zerbi is emerging as a Napoli candidate after leaving Brighton.

The announcement came today via a formal statement that De Zerbi will be leaving Brighton and Hove Albion by mutual consent after tomorrow’s final Premier League game of the season with Manchester United.

Although he might seem an ideal fit for Milan, having grown up in their youth academy, it seems as if De Zerbi is not on the Rossoneri’s wish-list.

He was assumed to be heading towards Bayern Munich, who this afternoon finished third in the Bundesliga under Thomas Tuchel.

However, director Max Eberl told ZDF reporters today that he could “deny” the next coach is going to be Italian.

De Zerbi heading to Napoli?

Some Italian sources including Enrico Varriale of RAI Sport suggest that maybe De Zerbi is the secret candidate who has been in the background for Napoli while the talks drag on with Antonio Conte.

It would be a return for the man who turns 45 next month, as he was on the Napoli books for years as a player, then made his Serie A debut as coach of Benevento.

De Zerbi went out on a lot of loan moves, but still played 42 competitive games for the Partenopei, scoring four goals and providing three assists.

He plays with the same 4-3-3 formation that President Aurelio De Laurentiis stated last year he was looking for to continue the work done by Scudetto-winning Luciano Spalletti.

Milan revamp with Luka Jovic, Noah Okafor and Christian Pulisic, while Torino have Duvan Zapata and Pietro Pellegri in a push for Europe.

It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Lecce-Atalanta on the LIVEBLOG.

Stefano Pioli is already guaranteed second place, so is taking the opportunity to reshuffle his squad and for the second game in a row leaves Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud on the bench.

Mike Maignan, Simon Kjaer, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Samuel Chukwueze are injured, with Matteo Gabbia suspended, while Theo Hernandez is struggling with flu symptoms, so Filippo Terracciano starts.

Torino still have some slender hope of securing Conference League qualification after Fiorentina and Napoli drew 2-2 last night.

Nikola Vlasic, Koffi Djidji, Gvidas Gineitis and Perr Schuurs are out of action, but Alessandro Buongiorno and Duvan Zapata pass fitness tests to start.

Torino vs. Milan line-ups

Torino: Milinkovic-Savic; Tameze, Buongiorno, Masina; Bellanova, Ilic, Linetty, Rodriguez; Ricci; Pellegri, Zapata

Milan: Sportiello; Kalulu, Tomori, Thiaw, Terracciano; Musah, Reijnders, Bennacer; Pulisic, Jovic, Okafor

18-05-2024 19:45

MatchDay 37

Olympic Grande Torino Stadium

Torino

Milan

3 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Duván Zapata (Assist: Ricardo Rodríguez)		26'
Ivan Ilić (Assist: Raoul Bellanova)		40'

2nd half

Ricardo Rodríguez (Assist: Pietro Pellegri)		46'
		55'		Ismaël Bennacer
		76'		Fikayo Tomori
Samuele Ricci		90+5'

Match statistic

40

Possession %

60

11

Total shots

16

5

Shots on target

4

5

Shots off target

7

1

Blocked shots

5

3

Corners

8

2

Offsides

15

Fouls

14

Torino

Milan

Starting lineups

32

Vanja Milinković-Savić

Goalkeeper

5

Adam Masina

Defender

4

Alessandro Buongiorno

Defender

80'

19

Raoul Bellanova

Defender

74'

13

Ricardo Rodríguez

Defender

61'

61

Adrien Tameze

Midfielder

8

Ivan Ilić

Midfielder

77

Karol Linetty

Midfielder

28

Samuele Ricci

Midfielder

91

Duván Zapata

Attacker

11

Pietro Pellegri

Attacker

74'

57

Marco Sportiello

Goalkeeper

23

Fikayo Tomori

Defender

28

Malick Thiaw

Defender

20

Pierre Kalulu

Defender

38

Filippo Terracciano

Midfielder

65'

4

Ismaël Bennacer

Midfielder

78'

14

Tijjani Reijnders

Midfielder

80

Yunus Musah

Midfielder

77'

11

Christian Pulisic

Attacker

15

Luka Jovic

Attacker

17

Noah Okafor

Attacker

61'

Substitutes

26

Koffi Djidji

Defender

1

Luca Gemello

Goalkeeper

21

David Okereke

Attacker

81

Aaron Ciammaglichella

Midfielder

15

Saba Sazonov

Defender

71

Mihai Popa

Goalkeeper

25

Alessandro Dellavalle

Defender

17

Uros Kabic

Attacker

79

Zanos Savva

Attacker

30

Jonathan Silva

Midfielder

27

Mërgim Vojvoda

Defender

61'

9

Antonio Sanabria

Attacker

74'

20

Valentino Lazaro

Defender

74'

6

Matteo Lovato

Defender

80'

16

Mike Maignan

Goalkeeper

83

Antonio Mirante

Goalkeeper

2

Davide Calabria

Defender

30

Mattia Caldara

Defender

7

Yacine Adli

Midfielder

85

Kevin Zeroli

Midfielder

95

Davide Bartesaghi

Defender

10

Rafael Leão

Attacker

61'

42

Alessandro Florenzi

Defender

65'

9

Olivier Giroud

Attacker

77'

32

Tommaso Pobega

Midfielder

78'

Roberto De Zerbi is leaving Brighton and Hove Albion by mutual consent, but Bayern Munich are the favourites to sign him, as Milan were reportedly never in contact.

The idea of having De Zerbi as the replacement for Stefano Pioli had been enticing to many Rossoneri supporters, who felt that perhaps the biggest obstacle was the release clause in his contract.

That has been removed today with a statement from Brighton confirming they are terminating the agreement by mutual consent.

However, initial reports suggest it has done nothing to change the situation with Milan, because the owners and directors never considered the ex-Sassuolo boss on their list.

Gerry Cardinale, Geoffrey Moncada and advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic seem to have their hearts set on an international coach rather than an Italian one, despite the fact foreign tacticians have struggled badly in Serie A during recent years.

De Zerbi would love Milan call

There are many reasons why De Zerbi would be thoroughly tempted by an approach from Milan, as he grew up in their youth academy and is a self-confessed supporter of the Rossoneri.

Nonetheless, the current owners never even approached De Zerbi and do not consider him one of the contenders for the bench, unlike Paulo Fonseca, Sergio Conceicao and Mark van Bommel.

Multiple sources point the former Shakhtar Donetsk boss towards Germany instead for Bayern Munich, as Thomas Tuchel will not remain.

Bayern have a history with Italian coaches like Giovanni Trapattoni and Carlo Ancelotti.

Lille coach Paulo Fonseca admitted he’ll ‘think carefully’ about his future amidst concrete links with the Milan job.

The 51-year-old Portuguese coach is now widely considered to be the leading candidate to take over from Stefano Pioli in the summer, proving more convincing to the Rossoneri than other options like Sergio Conceicao, Julen Lopetegui and Mark van Bommel.

No agreement has been reached yet with Fonseca and some Milan fans have already started to voice their displeasure with the idea, not having fond memories of his two-year spell with Roma. The Rossoneri still haven’t made a final decision yet and reportedly opened talks with Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni as well.

Fonseca on future plans

Speaking via TMW, Fonseca opened up about his plans for the future amidst links to Milan ahead of what could be his final match in charge of Lille.

“We’ll see about my future. Having the chance to play in the Champions League is important but I will also think about something else when I make my decision. What came out isn’t true. I don’t have an agreement with another club.

“I’m totally focused on the last match. Being able to go to the Champions League is important. I will decide after the last match, but I have to think about it carefully, talk about it with my staff, my agent and my family, to make the best decision. I won’t necessarily say what I’ll do after the match.

“At Lille we have created the foundations for the future but if the team play in the Champions League, the investment will have to be different. With me or without me.

“I have to be honest, it’s important for me to play in the Champions League but I also have other things to think about. Whether it’s here or somewhere else, I want to take a step forward in my career.”

Milan are gearing up for their final two Serie A matches of the season against Torino on Saturday evening and Salernitana on May 26^th, which are expected to be the final games under Pioli.

Brighton and Hove Albion have officially confirmed the imminent departure of head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who’ll leave his post after the last Premier League match of the season.

The 44-year-old Italian coach has been with the Seagulls since September 2022, being brought in to replace Graham Potter following the Englishman’s ill-fated move to Chelsea. He quickly made a name for himself in England, impressing fans and pundits alike with his exciting brand of football.

De Zerbi has been heavily linked with a move away from Brighton this summer, with suitors including Milan and Bayern Munich, but much was written about his €13m release clause, an issue that seemingly pushed the interested parties to look elsewhere.

De Zerbi leaving Brighton

As confirmed today, De Zerbi will now leave Brighton following their final Premier League match of the season against Manchester United after a mutual agreement was reached, freeing him ahead of the summer.

Journalist Daniele Longo suggested that Bayern are now pushing to try and snap up the 44-year-old Italian tactician and the news could change things at Milan, who have reportedly been focusing on Lille’s Paulo Fonseca.

Paulo Fonseca is still the top of Milan’s list in their search for a new head coach, but talks have also been opened with World Cup winner Lionel Scaloni, reports detail.

The Rossoneri’s coaching search is continuing to rumble on without much result, leaving the fans frustrated and confused as Stefano Pioli prepares to take on his final two matches in charge, ready to end a five-year spell at the helm.

Lille’s Fonseca has now emerged as the leading candidate for the Milan job, surpassing competition from Sergio Conceicao, Mark van Bommel, Julen Lopetegui and more, but no final decision has been made yet, leaving things unclear heading into the summer break.

Milan contact Scaloni

Page 14 of today’s Gazzetta dello Sport details how Milan have been in contact with the agents of Argentina coach Scaloni, interested in the idea of appointing the 2022 World Cup winner. No face-to-face meeting has been held yet and he’ll be away at the Copa America until July 14^th.

Whilst Fonseca is still top of the list, the Rossoneri are open to other candidates including Marcelo Gallardo and Graham Potter. Not in consideration are Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri, neither considered in line with the project in the Lombardy capital.

Stefano Pioli is gearing up for his last away match in charge of Milan, who will be keen to give their fans something to smile about in their Serie A duel with Torino.

The clash between the Granata and the Rossoneri kicks off at 19.45 UK time at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino in Turin.

Torino find themselves in the wilderness of the midtable heading into the summer, having little to play for in their final two league outings. Ivan Juric is expected to depart soon, having previously stated that failing to qualify for Europe would spell the end of his time in charge.

The Granata cannot count on the injured Nikola Vlasic, Gvidas Gineitis and Perr Schuurs. Alessandro Buongiorno and Duvan Zapata are both in doubt due to minor muscle complaints.

Milan have already confirmed their second-place finish in Serie A and are now in the final stages of the Pioli era, still on the hunt for a new head coach.

The Rossoneri are without Simon Kjaer, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Samuel Chukwueze, all sidelined with injuries. Mattia Gabbia is unavailable through suspension and Theo Hernandez is in doubt due to flu symptoms.

When these two teams met back in August, Milan comfortably cruised to a 4-1 win over Torino.

Probable line-ups for Torino vs Milan

Torino (3-4-1-2): Milinkovic-Savic; Tameze, Buongiorno, Rodriguez; Bellanova, Linetty, Ilic, Lazaro; Ricci; Zapata, Pellegri.

Milan (4-3-3): Sportiello; Kalulu, Thiaw, Tomori, Terracciano; Musah, Reijnders, Bennacer; Pulisic, Jovic, Okafor.

Suning are running out of time to agree a new loan with Pimco to repay the €395m to Oaktree by Monday, so they risk losing Inter, but unlike Milan in 2018, this fund doesn’t want a club.

When taking out the refinancing deal for €275m in 2021, it was secured against Suning’s stake in Inter, but that sum plus 12 per cent interest has blown the total figure up to €395m and the due date is May 20.

The Zhang family had been close to agreeing a new loan with US bond giant Pimco at an even higher interest rate, in the high teens according to the Financial Times, but those talks have dragged on and now they really are going down to the wire.

If Suning cannot repay the full €395m by Monday or agree different terms, then Oaktree will be able to effectively repossess Inter as an asset to cover the unpaid loan.

Why Inter scenario differs from Milan

It would be a very similar situation to the one their city rivals Milan found themselves in back in 2018, when Yonghong Li failed to keep up repayments on a loan he had used to purchase Milan a year earlier and Elliott Management took over.

However, while Elliott seemed ready to take on AC Milan and rebuild them before selling on, there is very little sign that Oaktree would have similar ambitions.

Indeed, the Financial Times report that Oaktree are concerned Suning raising further debt with a third party would reduce the chance of selling Inter.

“There was always the expectation that there’d be a sale of the club,” the source was quoted as saying.

So if Oaktree do repossess the Nerazzurri from Suning, it is unlikely to remain with them for long, leading to more uncertainty and the potential dismantling of the squad while a buyer is found.

La Gazzetta dello Sport

Out

The ugliest ending between Allegri and Juve

Club takes a stance: ‘Behaviour was incompatible’

On Monday with Montero

Giuntoli in charge

Here is what Motta’s Old Lady will look like

Inter, Zhang hanging by a thread

Oaktree ready to take the club

Pimco fund steps away, current financer prepared to pounce

There’s Fonseca on the phone

Milan call the Portuguese boss

Scaloni emerges too

Euro Toro try again

Tonight they face the Diavolo, with a victory they can hope

Fiorentina 2-2 Napoli

Il Corriere dello Sport

#SadnessIN

From the Coppa Italia triumph to Allegri Out

A long story of success at Juve ends badly

He is dismissed for incompatibility

Montero on the bench in Bologna

Club decides for an immediate change and blames Max for 5 incidents after victory over Atalanta

Scanavino told him of the dismissal: Giuntoli not seen at Continassa

Thiago Motta, agreement for 2 years plus 1

Napoli-Europe, almost goodbye

With draw in Florence (2-2), Viola are practically secure

Rrahmani opens the scoring, Fiorentina turn it around with Biraghi and Nzola, then Kvara magical free kick

Italiano remains at +2 over Calzona

Another Mihajlovic

His son will be coach of the Bologna babies

Miro follows in his father’s footsteps: he will be assistant-manager of the Under-15 or Under-16 team

His sister Virginia will call her second son Leone Sinisa

Finally FIFA say yes to VAR requests

The announcement

Tuttosport

Allegri sacked: ‘Incompatible with Juve values’

After the controversy, the dismissal arrives with strong statement

Waiting for Motta

Divorce brought forward over behavioural issues: never happened in the Bianconeri

But Agnelli hails him and Rabiot says ‘you deserved a different goodbye’

Montero on the bench for the final two games: tomorrow in Bologna he will face the chosen future coach

The last chat with Max

Meeting at Tuttosport HQ

The coach visited us to apologise to the director and clarify what happened in Rome

Bitterness over a split with Juve filled with tension

Toro, it’s fine like this for Juric

But not for the fans

Tonight against Milan to keep believing

Croatian: ‘I had a good three years. Europe would be the icing on the cake. I want joy, not these splits. There is no unity…’

Draw between Fiorentina and Napoli keeps hope alive

Oaktree ready to take Inter

Still not agreement with Pimco

Without developments this weekend, Zhang will lose control of the club on Tuesday

Meanwhile, the Californian fund hires an Italian communications expert

Milan are reportedly feeling ‘optimistic’ they can convince Joshua Zirkzee and his agent to favour them over Arsenal in the race for the Bologna striker.

They had seemingly been ruled out due to the sheer financial might of the Premier League clubs, especially as the Rossoblu were asking for €60-70m to sell the Dutchman.

However, it was then revealed that the €40m release clause was not just valid for Bayern Munich, but for any club ready to pay it before the end of June.

This put Milan back in the hunt and Calciomercato.com as well as Matteo Moretto claim that they are putting a great deal of pressure on agent Kia Joorabchian to keep Zirkzee in Serie A.

Zirkzee hot property for Bologna

Arsenal remain the favourites, but the Rossoneri are believed to be feeling ‘optimistic’ that they can get a deal done over the summer.

It is reported that Zirkzee would give Milan the upper hand after talks with director Geoffrey Moncada and club legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Milan have reportedly intensified negotiations with Paulo Fonseca, who is ready to turn down Olympique Marseille for this new Serie A experience.

The search for a new coach has been dragging on for weeks with numerous names mentioned in the media, but Fonseca has been perhaps the most consistent.

Now transfer pundit Fabrizio Romano claims that Milan are stepping up the talks with Fonseca and his representatives, with all parties eager to get the deal done.

He has seemingly climbed to the top of the ranking ahead of Sergio Conceicao, who still has a contractual issue to resolve with FC Porto, and Mark van Bommel.

Fonseca ready for Milan

Fonseca will be a free agent when his current deal with LOSC expires on June 30 and has received a lucrative proposal from Olympique Marseille.

Multiple sources this evening suggest he has turned down the Ligue 1 giants.

The 51-year-old Portuguese tactician already has Serie A coaching experience thanks to his time on the Roma bench from 2019 to 2021.

AC Milan have made new contact in the recent hours with Paulo Fonseca.

Fonseca wants the job and talks are progressing well, waiting for club’s decision to proceed with contracts.

He’s attracted by Milan project, ready to advance to final stages if all goes to plan. pic.twitter.com/AthZ4jvJdp

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 17, 2024