Stefano Pioli tries to talk about the present, i.e. Milan-Genoa (at 6pm, live Dazn), but it is undeniable that the future matters more. The Rossoneri are already confident of qualifying for the next Champions League and have nothing more to ask of the championship. Second place doesn’t matter that much if it’s true that the entire Milan environment is now aware that the new coach won’t be Pioli while Pioli himself knows he already has a new job for next year. Yes, because De Laurentiis is now convinced of handing Napoli over to the Rossoneri coach, preferred to Italiano, who remains the emergency plan B. There have been no direct contacts between the president and Pioli but everything is set up with the agent for a three-year contract.
«I can’t and don’t want to control the rumors. The real thing is that I have another year of contract and I won’t talk to other clubs as long as I’m a Milan member”, explains Pioli in an attempt to postpone any discussion until the end of the month. It’s true that he has another year but the club, it’s no secret, is looking for his heir and Pioli is not one for a gap year, especially if Napoli are so convinced of signing him. “Pizza? I like cappelletti in broth”, the elegant dribbling of Pioli who, however, then speaks a bit in the past tense: “I have returned home many times from San Siro with a heart full of joy. Then the atmosphere changed a little and I’m sadder inside, but we have to move forward. However, I enjoyed and suffered a lot.” It seems like a comment on a now worn-out relationship. One of those that should be stopped.
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Meanwhile, Milan is finally solving the post-Lopetegui puzzle with Sergio, now an overwhelming favorite to succeed Pioli. The Portuguese has just renewed with Porto but in the meantime the president has changed after 42 years and Villas Boas, newly elected, wants to present himself with a new coach to break with the management of Pinto da Costa. So Milan seized the opportunity and started negotiating with Conceição, considered an ideal candidate because he knows Serie A having played in it, prefers the 4-2-3-1, has won three championships and in the Champions League has always presented a Difficult port.
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Fonseca remains the most credible alternative. Even the only one to date. The former Roma player is stalling with Marseille because he hopes for Milan, also due to a personal desire for redemption in Italy after the Giallorossi experience. However, Amorim’s idea seems to have faded and, once discarded by Liverpool, he seems to have promised Sporting that he will remain him. Considering that Thiago Motta is almost certain to be at Juventus, the mosaic of next year’s greats is practically complete, with Bologna who could focus on Italiano and Fiorentina who is thinking of Aquilani and Palladino.
