According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan owner Gerry Cardinale will return to Italy by the beginning of October with Stefano Pioli and Rafael Leao’s contract extensions among his priorities.

Milan are set to face crucial games with Chelsea in the Champions League and Juventus in Serie A when the season resumes after the break and the American businessman is expected to attend both games at San Siro, the report claims.

However, Cardinale is ‘planning a return to Italy’ also to take charge of off-the-field matters, including new contracts for Pioli and Leao.

The coach is under contract until 2024, but Milan have an option to extend for one more season, and Cardinale is willing to activate it and give continuity to Pioli’s project at San Siro.

Leao’s deal also runs out in June 2024, but negotiations with the Portuguese striker are trickier. Rafa owes circa €16m to his former club Sporting CP, for unilaterally terminating his contract in 2018. Although the most recent reports in Italy suggest he wants to renew, nothing can be taken for granted at this stage.

Milan will sit down with his agent Jorge Mendes, but don’t want to lose their striker for free, as it happened with Gigio Donnarumma, Hakan Calhanoglu and Franck Kessié over the last couple of seasons.

If the two parties fail to reach an agreement, Milan could sell their star in the summer or even in January, according to the report.

During his trip to Italy, Cardinale will also closely monitor the latest developments related to Milan’s new stadium.

The public debate for a new stadium in the area of San Siro which will likely lead to the demolishon of the Stadio Meazza will start on Wednesday (next week) and Cardinale sees the matter as a priority for the future of the club.

7 thought on “Cardinale works on Milan’s renewals: first Pioli, then Leao”
  1. I don’t see it as frustrating the man is trying to work what a way to make a statement for the Milan fans if he gets 3 out of 3 gets pioli and leao renewed and gets good progress on stadium. Fans will be in love and have full trust of the new owners.

  2. Sorry, was speaking about the mystery algorithm FI stole from Mad Max to turn posting into a lottery.

    Hard to be part of a forum when you can’t post!

  3. A Leao departure seems more likely than a renewal, honestly. A two-year extension with improved salary and lowered release-clause is certainly possible, if they all agree that a club that wants to spend 100 mill can get him next summer.

    Better than Hakan, Kessie and Dollarumma exits where they basically.kossed the badges right up till they spat on it.

  4. Vinnie ..I wouldn’t group Keesie and Donnarumma with Hakan

    Hakan stop playing for Mian well before he left, Keesie and Gigo helped the club move forward until their last days.

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