In Vienna in the conference on the eve of the match against Tunisia the coach glossed over (“I don’t confirm, I don’t deny”). In truth he is very impressed by Cardinale’s proposal. A new contact with the AC Milan leaders is expected this week. Then the signature with the Federation or…
Thoughts hide behind professor glasses. In recent days Ralf Rangnick has chosen a healthy diplomatic lock: in his statements, he is very cautious. Understandable, given the moment. So, it’s time to distinguish between words and feelings. In words, RR gave no clues about the contacts with Milan: “I will neither confirm nor deny – he said in the press conference on the eve of the friendly match with Tunisia -. My interlocutor now is only the Austrian federation, there is nothing else to say”. The journalists in the press room of the federal center nodded: they think Rangnick will stay. For this reason, the atmosphere in the Viennese Coverciano was relaxed, with Alaba’s friends visiting and the presentation of the song that will accompany the national team in the United States (very rock, a little trashy, but with its own reason). The reality, however, is a little different. The coach is very impressed by Milan’s proposal and is seriously considering it. Furthermore, a new contact with Gerry Cardinale, Massimo Calvelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected this week, after Tuesday’s meeting in Vienna. As for the Austrian federation, Rangnick isn’t lying: he has a proposal on the table to continue coaching Austria and the news these days is that we have a deadline. In seven, ten days at most, he will give an answer to the Österreichischer Fussball-Bund: he doesn’t want to start the World Cup as a coach in the balance. In or out… and Milan observes as an interested spectator.
RANGNICK-MILAN, WHAT HAPPENS
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Rangnick has two clear paths: go straight or change his life. Continuing means accepting the proposal of the Austrian federation, which frankly has done everything possible for him. He has convinced some sponsors to participate in the salary as technical commissioner, which would double: from the current million to 2 million net per season in the next two years. Is there a World Cup to be played in the next few days? Never mind, the federation is ready to commit before the start. It’s up to Rangnick to decide, and it will take a few days. “He is very loved here – says Rainer Bortenschlager, journalist for Kronen Zeitung -. In my opinion the team is stronger than two years ago, it has no major injuries and can surprise at the World Cup”. The change instead is Milan. RedBird called Rangnick to talk about a role as head of the sports area – not as coach, unlike what happened in 2020 – and in recent days he has held new talks. It’s a poker game because both Milan and Rangnick have other solutions and RedBird has to decide whether to rely on a head of the sports area who will be busy at the World Cup for a month.
THE DIFFERENCE WITH BAYERN
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A question has been circulating in recent days: how can Rangnick accept Milan if in April 2024 he said no to Bayern’s 10 million net per season? There is an answer. Meanwhile, for the role: Bayern asked him to coach and decide on youth and scouting. At Milan, however, he would not coach. Then for the times: two years ago, the work with Austria was in its infancy and Rangnick preferred to live that adventure rather than sit on the bench every three days. Now Austria’s cycle is complete – it will be in a month and a half – and a change would be more logical. For this reason, for six months he has been thinking about the renewal without accepting it.
ONLY MILAN: NO OTHER CLUB
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The key will probably be understanding whether Milan will give him autonomy in decisions and budget for his plan. “The coach needs solid skills within the club to fully express his potential,” says Alois Tschida, who covers Austria for the APA agency. Rangnick is like this, he is not a dictator but a rational leader: he only accepts projects in which he has room to maneuver to realize his ideas. And his ideas are never conservative: in the very rigid Italian panorama, he would be a man of change. Logic says that coexistence with Ibrahimovic is one of the big issues on the table. In 2020 Rangnick imagined a Milan without Ibra but today the point is to understand if they could work together, making decisions with Cardinale and Calvelli. The certainty is that there are no concrete negotiations with other clubs. Rangnick said no to Borussia Dortmund in January 2025 and to a Turkish club more recently. Today his future is between Vienna and Milan, between the Austrian national team and Milan. The past says that man is attracted by challenges, by contexts in which we need to change to enter a new dimension. And there’s no need to even write what the strongest challenge is, between Austria and Milan.
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