Stefano Pioli admitted his renewal with Milan ‘is not a priority,’ and praised Gianluigi Donnarumma. ‘He’s an exemplary professional’.
Milan finished second in Serie A and return to the Champions League in 2021-22. Pioli wants to continue to develop the squad and works to confirm the Diavoli’s position in the top four.
The former Fiorentina coach enters the last year of his contract, but the 55-year-old is not focused on renewing his deal at San Siro.
“The renewal of my contract is not the priority,” Pioli told La Repubblica. “With Maldini and Massara we will talk above all about how to improve the team ahead of the Champions League.
“It must be the year of our confirmation. I feel lucky to work in this club and with this group. I would have liked to emulate the Giro d’Italia feat of my idol [Gianni] Bugno, to lead from start to finish.
“But the drop in form was normal. We have never had doubts about the principles of the game, working on the details.”
Pioli praised the directors work on the transfer market so far and hopes to strengthen the squad further ahead of 2021-22.
“My managers have already shown creativity,” he said. “Apart from [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, on whom I had obviously expressed a positive opinion, I’m thinking of [Simon] Kjaer and [Alexis] Saelemaekers, of [Fikayo] Tomori, whom I didn’t know.
“The important thing is to have build a base of 10 to 12 top-team players, like Theo Hernandez, Tomori, Kjaer, [Franck] Kessie, [Davide] Calabria, [Hakan] Calhanoglu, Ibrahimovic.
“Now we have to improve the group, because confirming our position is the most difficult thing.”
Pioli then spoke about Gianluigi Donnarumma, as Milan failed to renew his contract and have replaced the Italy international with Mike Maignan.
“He’s an exemplary professional,” Pioli said. “He’s focused on what happens on the pitch. Then, the negotiations off it can work or not.
“We talked and thanked each other, it’s a sincere relationship. I wish him all the best for the European Championship.”