Ruben Amorim has wasted little time putting his stamp on AC Milan, with the Portuguese coach reportedly deciding that eight members of the squad no longer feature in his plans.
The former Manchester United manager is prepared to oversee a major reshaping of the team as he attempts to revive the fortunes of the Italian giants after their disappointing fifth-place finish last season.
Among those facing the prospect of leaving are former Chelsea players Fikayo Tomori and Christopher Nkunku, while midfielder Youssouf Fofana has also been made available for transfer.
Eight players face the exit door
David Odogu, Pervis Estupinan, Santiago Gimenez and Philip Terracciano are also expected to depart as Amorim moves towards building a squad suited to his preferred five-at-the-back formation.
The decisions reportedly followed a crucial meeting between Amorim and Milan’s senior figures on Thursday, with the coach making his intentions clear ahead of the new campaign.
Nkunku’s inclusion is particularly notable after his difficult spell at Chelsea.
The French forward is now understood to be among the players Milan are willing to sell as Amorim seeks to create room for his own tactical vision.
A new system demands major changes
Amorim’s preference for a back three has been a defining feature of his managerial career, and the Milan squad is now being reshaped around that philosophy.
The Portuguese coach wants his players to embrace a system that requires considerable tactical discipline, particularly from the central defenders and wing-backs.
Those unable to fit his approach appear likely to be sacrificed as the rebuilding process gathers pace.
The scale of the overhaul reflects the challenge Amorim has accepted at San Siro, where expectations remain high despite Milan’s disappointing campaign last season.
Difficult start to pre-season
Amorim has yet to record a victory during his opening pre-season matches with Milan.
His side began with a 2-2 draw against Scottish champions Celtic before being held to a 1-1 draw by city rivals Inter Milan.
The biggest setback came against Chelsea, with Xabi Alonso’s side producing a dominant performance to beat Milan 3-0 in Jakarta.
Those results have provided Amorim with plenty to assess, but the coach appears determined to make significant changes rather than simply rely on the existing squad.
Amorim embraces the Milan challenge
The appointment represents another major opportunity for Amorim after his difficult spell at Manchester United, where he was dismissed in January following 14 months in charge.
Despite that experience, the 41-year-old has spoken enthusiastically about taking charge of one of Europe’s most historic clubs.
“I’m really very happy to be here, it’s an honour to be the coach of Milan,” Amorim said.
He explained that Milan had long held a special place in his footballing ambitions and admitted that the challenge could prove even greater than the one he faced at Old Trafford.
Winning mentality demanded at San Siro
Amorim has made it clear that he does not intend to lower expectations while rebuilding the squad.
“I’m at Milan to win, if you’re Milan coach you have to have this mentality,” he said.
The coach also acknowledged that substantial work lies ahead, but insisted that success must remain the objective.
“I’m not naive, I know there’s a lot of work to do, but if you’re the Milan coach you have to play to win.”
Reunion with Manchester United awaits
Amorim will have the opportunity to face his former club this weekend when Milan meet Manchester United in Poland.
The fixture will provide an intriguing backdrop to his early days in Italy, particularly given the Portuguese manager’s difficult departure from Old Trafford.
With eight players potentially heading for the exit and his preferred formation already influencing recruitment decisions, Amorim’s Milan project is rapidly beginning to take shape.
