Leonardo’s departure blocks 3 Milan signings
AC Milan were very close to completing three early summer signings but the departure of sporting director Leonardo has blocked everything.
AC Milan played the last Serie A match against Spal but a victory wasn’t enough to secure Champions League qualification. Only one day latter, Leonardo bid farewell to the club. Rossoneri CEO Iva Gazidis will be the central figure of the club from now on and will have the final say even on the transfer market. The Brazilian sporting director of AC Milan resigned, together with Gattuso, but it has been confirmed that Luis Campos will not take his place.
In fact, Gazidis has offered the job to Paolo Maldini. The AC Milan CEO confirmed the proposal in a long interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport and awaits a final answer this week. Maldini himself admitted that the offer is tempting but has asked for time to think it through. If he accepts, the former number 3 will lead a group of three of four people that will be responsible for the upcoming transfer window.
However, the unexpected departure of Leonardo will affect AC Milan’s transfer business this summer. Waiting to clarify the situation, the Rossoneri have decided to block three negotiations that were in an advanced phase reports Il Corriere della Sera.
A few days ago AC Milan agreed the signing of Stefano Sensi. The 23-year-old Italy international would sign a 5-year contract of 1,8 million euros per season. AC Milan had agreed to pay Sassuolo 25 million for his services. In reality only 13 million because 12 will be deducted from the obligatory purchase of Manuel Locatelli. Considering Sensi’s age, role and quality, this is a transfer that should still happen no matter the name of AC Milan’s sporting director.
However, negotiations for Allan Saint-Maximin and Everton Soares have been stopped completely. The French 22-year-old right winger is one of the brightest talents in Ligue 1. When asked about a potential transfer to Milan, Saint-Maximin admitted the parties are negotiating since January: “Milan is definitely a great club. I had the opportunity to go to Milan in the January transfer window but it did not go through. We will see how it goes this summer“. His contract with Nice expires in one year but the French club still demands 30 million euros to let him leave. Leonardo was confident he could close for much less.
Similar situation for Everton Soares. AC Milan are the biggest admirers of the Brazilian 23-year-old right winger. Sporting director Leonardo has already agreed personal terms with the player who would love to join his national teammate Lucas Paqueta at Milan. However, negotiating with Gremio has proven difficult. The Brazilian club demands 40 million euros for Everton and so far has resisted AC Milan’s attempts to lower the fee with 10 million. It’s unclear at this point whether negotiations for Everton and Saint-Maximin will ever resume.
