Milan, on Leao Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. The outgoing market and Modric’s choice

Don’t think Gerry Cardinale is done. This is 1775 and the American Revolution has just begun. Milan will also change a lot among the players and the landscape in the locker room will change: new faces, new voices. Cardinale was struck by the players’ approach on the tragic Sunday evening against Cagliari. He appreciated the commitment of Modric, Pulisic, Pavlovic and Saelemaekers, on the contrary he considered many other players too detached, cold, not ready enough to give everything for Milan. Many will leave.

Leao and Galatasaray

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Rafa Leao is central in this context because no one like him can change Milan’s balance sheet. Rafa can bring 40-50 million, which won’t be the 80-100 expected a couple of summers ago but it’s handy. The news is Galatasaray’s interest in a great Turkish derby. Gala and Fenerbahçe have made their moves in the last week. They look at each other from a distance and study each other: they are used to having common goals. In Türkiye there has been a lot of talk about Fener’s passion for Leao, who will have elections for the new president on the weekend of 6-7 July. Calm. Between the two Istanbul teams, Galatasaray is further ahead and is ready to offer a salary of 10 million net per season. Leao, who earns 5.5 plus bonuses at Milan, cannot remain indifferent. Will he accept Turkey? Answer in the next few days, perhaps during the World Cup.

Modric and Rabiot

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The other two big question marks hover over the heads of Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot. Different situations. With qualification for the Champions League, Modric would certainly have stayed: he feels good in Milan, he has a daughter who plays for the Rossoneri, he has discovered the love of the Milan fans. The defeat against Cagliari instead shocked him and now Luka reflects. The first idea is to stay with the Rossoneri anyway, for redemption a year later, but he will think about it a little longer. The Rabiot issue instead revolves around Massimiliano Allegri. Adrien arrived at Milan at the push of the coach and without the coach his position is back in question. History teaches us: at Juventus, when Allegri was sent to a new address, Rabiot refused to renew his contract. With Milan this need doesn’t exist but the new management will have to give him a phone call and understand if Adrien will be as motivated as he was a year ago.

Pulisic and Pavlovic

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And the others? Many situations are in the balance… and after all, how could it be otherwise? The coach and the sporting director will determine many choices, it’s natural. However, some lines can be drawn, starting from Cardinale’s disappointment, who doesn’t see many leaders in the team (and he’s right). Christian Pulisic, for example, in the last 24 hours has significantly increased his chances of playing another twelve months with Milan. Captain America clearly had a terrible 2026, on and off the pitch: he no longer scored, he was no longer in harmony with the environment. If Milan’s structure had remained unchanged, CP11 would probably have asked for the transfer. Cardinale, however, is determined to keep him – Pulisic is still the captain of the American national team – and will try hard. Likely to succeed. On Strahinja Pavlovic, however, it will be a question of offers. Let’s put it this way: Milan would be happy to keep him, despite knowing that in a four-man defense they would risk having more difficulty. However, a doubt is justified by the Serbian’s very good season and the possibility that an important offer will arrive for him. Let’s even make an offer of 40 million from the Premier League. To refuse, in that case, would take courage.

The other players

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News from other fields. In goal, Maignan has renewed: he is linked to Allegri but he is the captain and, until an offer to the contrary is made, he should be considered confirmed. In defense, Tomori is in the balance, while De Winter and Gabbia will remain. On the wings, pay attention to Estupinan, another of the AC Milan players expected at the World Cup, who was clearly rejected despite his goal in the derby. We will start again from Saelemaekers and Bartesaghi. In the middle, Loftus-Cheek hasn’t been in the plans for some time: will offers arrive for him? Going forward, Füllkrug will not be redeemed and Gimenez would do well to accept other destinations, because in the past he has rejected them and has not been right. This season, he has never scored. As for Nkunku, it is forbidden to reach hasty conclusions. The Milan fans don’t love him, his season was negative, against Cagliari he missed a goal that was almost scored… but his fate still hangs by a thread. Like the balloon.