Words ending in “egui”, in Basque, indicate an excess: “too much”. Here, Julen Lopetegui has been in Asteasu since Friday, the small village in the Basque Country where he was born and where dad Lopetegui, 94 years old, lives, not just any man. Mr. José Antonio was mayor of Asteasu but above all he became famous as a champion of harri-jasotze, stone lifting which is very popular in the area. It’s easy to imagine what Lopetegui thought from the family home: “Too much”, as per the suffix in his surname. From his point of view, the criticism from Italy was excessive, with a petition against him reaching 8,000 signatures. In part the controversy was expected but so… maybe not.
memories
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Lopetegui has already been through the storm with Spain and Real Madrid and no, it didn’t end well. To the point that even today the management of the crisis is one of the strong arguments of the many fans who do not consider him worthy of the Milan bench. Yet, Italy has always brought good memories for him. When Lopetegui has faced Italian teams in his career he has never lost, winning an Under 21 European Championship against the Azzurri and a Europa League against Conte’s Inter. He has always or almost always won, from Francesco Rocca’s Under 20 days to the senior national team. Milan probably also thought of him for this reason.
the situation
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Not only did he think of him. You have chosen him as your designated coach for next season. Lopetegui is largely in pole position and has an agreement in principle with Milan for a three-year contract worth 4 million net per season, more or less the same as Pioli’s contract. The long duration makes it clear that the club and coach discussed a project together, not just a season. It is not yet time for shared choices but a path has been traced and the week that has just begun will be fundamental, probably decisive. Not for the announcement, which in any case will come at the end of the season, but for the decision. In recent days, Milan have also evaluated alternative candidates, Paulo Fonseca and Roberto De Zerbi above all, but will soon have to let Lopetegui know if their preference is confirmed. West Ham, not by chance, is a hypothesis in the background. Lopetegui made it known to the English club that he had chosen Milan and there is no turning back from here. If anything, in his mind, it’s time to think about the future with Milan. Pioli yesterday achieved his fourth consecutive Champions League qualification: when he started a season, he always ended it in a noble position. Once second, once first, once fifth… with promotion to the big cup on the court. Roma’s draw against Napoli yesterday makes it impossible to double overtake the Giallorossi and Atalanta, who will meet on 12 May. It means that Milan is sure to finish at least fifth and have a place in the 2024-25 Champions League, the first with the new format. Much more realistically, Milan will finish second, largely in line with the club’s requests.
speak Italian
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So, Lopetegui can already plan his entry into Milan from July, in the hope that there will be no surprises. He speaks English, French, Portuguese and a little Italian, which might come in handy soon. The ambition is to speak it very well as early as the summer. And among the projects for next season we return to the starting point: to the family. During the season at Wolverhampton, Daniel Lopetegui, born in 1997, son of Julen, also worked on the staff. Milan, as with Pioli, could have a father-son duo at Milanello. For an entirely sporting lineage: grandfather José Antonio lifted stones, it would be enough for them to raise a cup.
