AC Milan boss Zlatan Ibrahimovic may have already made his biggest mistake that could actually cost him his job as the American owners’ right-hand man at the club. Manager Stefano Pioli was “almost” where the club wanted to be in Serie A, but according to the Swedish boss not exciting enough to keep his job.
Zlatan wanted a new manager and Paulo Fonseca was one who was on his wish list. But it has not gone so well 7th place in Serie A so far is far from the plan to become a dominant force in Europe.
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In addition, the club’s biggest star and the manager have cleared up. – Values of close to two billion are at stake.
Rafael Leao is demanding to leave AC Milan in January unless Paulo Fonseca is sacked. Super agent Jorge Mendes who is working to bring the superstar to Barcelona. Leao is surprisingly no longer a first-team player at Milan, having started on the bench for the club’s last three Serie A games against Udinese, Napoli and Monza. – In yesterday’s game against Monza, he only came on after 63 minutes.
In Milan’s last Champions League game against Club Brugge a fortnight ago, Leao was hooked at 1-1 in a game that the Rossoneri then won 3-1.
According to all media, the relationship between Leao and his manager Fonseca is now at rock bottom. According to Matteo Moretto, the couple is no longer on speaking terms.
Fonseca succeeded Stefano Pioli in the summer, but two Portuguese duos have not been able to gel so far. Earlier this season against Lazio, Leao refused to attend a midgame call by Fonseca after being benched by him before the game.
The relationship has deteriorated with each passing day for the past fortnight.
The message from Fonseca’s camp is that the manager is unhappy with Leao’s defensive contributions, speed of work and pressure. He believes he is too much of an individualist, not a team player, and this makes it difficult to create a coherent unit.
Leao himself, who has looked disinterested and depressed on the pitch when playing the last few games, has now reached breaking point, and the 25-year-old is reported by many outlets to be ready to leave Milan as early as January if Fonseca are still in charge.
AC Milan must now choose Rafael Leao and their manager if the relationship cannot be repaired soon.
Leao only signed a new contract last year, but that hasn’t stopped him from being often linked with a move away, with Chelsea, PSG and Barcelona in particular big admirers of him.
In fact, Moretto reports that Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes is working behind the scenes to try and bring Leao to Barcelona.
Mendes has a very close relationship with the Blaugrana, who would like to sign Leao.
Leao’s €175m release clause is far too expensive for Barcelona (and everyone else now that things aren’t going so well), but Mendes is hoping to negotiate a deal that’s reasonable.
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