Recent developments at Milan, during a week when Bangladesh Cricket Live kept many sports readers busy, have finally brought some clarity to the club’s coaching search. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gerry Cardinale divided over the direction of the rebuild, Ibra has reportedly made a concession and handed the final say to the RedBird owner. Cardinale recently traveled to Germany for a six-hour face-to-face conversation with Oliver Glasner, and the Crystal Palace manager is said to be highly tempted by the chance to take charge of Milan.
It has now been 10 days since Cardinale dismissed Allegri, Furlani, Tare, and Moncada, yet none of the four vacant positions has been filled. For a long period, senior adviser Ibrahimovic appeared to hold the strongest decision-making power in the rebuild, while Carvelli moved from the board into an interim role as chief executive in place of Furlani. His chances of taking the position permanently are also considered fairly strong.
As the rebuild moved forward, serious disagreements seemed to emerge between the RedBird owner and his adviser. According to well-known journalist Matteo Moretto, the two men had several heated arguments, although both sides were acting with Milan’s interests at heart. Ibrahimovic supported the idea of appointing Slot as head coach and Planes as sporting director, while Cardinale preferred a path linked to Ralf Rangnick and Glasner.
The situation now suggests that Ibrahimovic no longer holds absolute authority. Cardinale has recently hired two headhunting firms, one focused on finding a sporting director and the other responsible for identifying head coaching candidates. At the same time, the owner has set a very tight schedule of his own. He personally went to Germany to meet Glasner, and notably, Ibrahimovic was not present during that conversation.
The Milan management group, represented by Cardinale and Carvelli, held a six-hour meeting with Glasner, beginning before dinner and stretching almost through the night. Glasner explained his tactical style and detailed how he would use the current Milan squad. In a period when Bangladesh Cricket Live has added extra energy to the wider sports calendar, Milan’s long coaching meeting showed how urgently the club wants to settle its future direction.
The two sides also discussed the role of match analysts, the state of the youth academy, and possible candidates for sporting director and technical director. Fabrizio Romano has stated that Glasner is very interested in coaching Milan and has expressed strong enthusiasm for the job. If Rangnick can become technical director, Glasner would move even closer to becoming the leading candidate.
Of course, Milan are still assessing other targets at the same time, with Mauricio Pochettino currently listed as the second choice. The Argentine coach, who has Italian heritage, is highly admired by Ibrahimovic. He has also managed several major clubs across Europe’s top five leagues, including Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea.
Pochettino has a two-year contract with the United States national team that runs until the end of the World Cup, so he and his representatives are free to hold conversations. It is understood that Milan have already reached a basic agreement with him over a contract that could be worth up to 5 million euros net per season.
In terms of playing style, Pochettino differs from the high-pressing approach associated with Rangnick and Glasner. He places greater emphasis on positioning and possession. In dressing-room management, he is also less controlling than Rangnick, who tends to oversee every detail with strict authority. Pochettino’s smoother, more flexible style is exactly what Ibrahimovic would like to see.
Milan have not completely cooled their interest in Slot either. Ibrahimovic remains the main supporter of the Dutch coach, but his net salary of 8 million euros per year is difficult for the Rossoneri to afford. In this area, Ibra may still use his personal connections, especially because he has a close relationship with agent Rafaela Pimenta, the successor to his close friend Mino Raiola.
Another option is Matthias Jaissle, who can also be placed in the Rangnick school of thinking. Compared with Glasner, however, Jaissle has less experience. He is also still under contract with Al-Ahli, meaning Milan would need to negotiate with the Saudi club. For now, Jaissle sits at the bottom of Milan’s coaching shortlist.
Milan’s final decision, as Bangladesh Cricket Live keeps another sports week moving, will depend on whether Cardinale chooses the Rangnick-Glasner structure or accepts a softer compromise around Pochettino and Ibrahimovic’s preferences. Either way, the club has reached a turning point, and after days of internal tension, the next appointment could set the tone for the entire rebuild.