Revealed: all the youngsters Montella, Berlusconi want for an all-Italian Milan | by Daniele Longo
“When I dined with him, he wrote down his dream team entirely made out of young Italians: we’re on the right road”.
Though yesterday’s defeat to Genoa was a disaster, Vincenzo Montella’s words before the game say a lot about the direction Milan are headed in. Already starting the likes of De Sciglio, Donnarumma, Locatelli and Calabria, the Rossoneri are going very Italian, very quickly.
With his comments, Coach Montella has given Berlusconi’s approach his seal of approval. But who are the talents he is looking for?
Despite the defence being entirely composed of Italians, the likes of Antonio Barreca is considered to be a tantalising prospect, while there are plenty of names the Rossoneri like in midfield. We recently spoke of Montella’s appreciation for Lorenzo Pellegrini of Sassuolo. He was already added to Milan’s shopping list this summer, but Roma are ahead in that race, seeing as they have the right to buy him back for €10 million. Don’t exclude a Bertolacci-style operation, the midfielder being bought back by the Giallorossi for €15m and sold to Milan for €20m.
With news from France reporting on a Verratti -PSG split, the Italian is also on Milan’s radar, and is considered the perfect technical and commercial coup. Thing is, his wages are high, he’d cost €60 million, and is also wanted by Bayern and Real.
Daniele Baselli of Torino is another name being mentioned, with Torino asking for at least €10 million for the young star.
Things are just as tantalizing in attack, where the duo of Niang and Suso will need replacements, or at least players who can pick up the slack. Both considered long-term prospects, their deals are set to be upgraded in the coming months. Meanwhile, Domenico Berardi has already been considered, though Inter are ahead on that front, and he’d cost €35m. Federico Bernardeschi of Fiorentina is another hot name, as is that of Andrea Belotti, who is a childhood Milan fan.
