AC Milan are making big moves behind the scenes. The Italian giants are in advanced talks to bring Fabio Paratici on board as their new football director. This comes after a really disappointing season for the Rossoneri.
Milan's top brass, including CEO Giorgio Furlani, personally reached out to Paratici. The 52-year-old beat out other candidates like former Lazio director Igli Tare for the position. Paratici is currently serving a 30-month ban related to a capital gains investigation, but that ends on July 20.
Despite his ban, Paratici has continued working as an external consultant for Tottenham since stepping down in April 2023. Now he's ready to return to Italian football, where he made his name.
A Proven Track Record of Success
Paratici's resume speaks for itself. He worked wonders alongside current Inter president Giuseppe Marotta at both Sampdoria and Juventus. At Sampdoria, they achieved an incredible Champions League qualification against all odds.
At Juventus, Paratici helped build a dynasty. He was instrumental in signing stars like Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal, Paul Pogba, and Paulo Dybala. Perhaps his most famous move was convincing Juventus to splash around $90 million on Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018.
That Ronaldo deal actually caused friction with Marotta, who left shortly after. Paratici then took on more responsibility as CEO of Football at Juventus, guiding the club through difficult times including the COVID-19 crisis.
Milan's Road to Recovery
AC Milan currently sit ninth in Serie A and likely won't be playing Champions League football next season. It's a dramatic fall for one of Europe's most storied clubs. The team has seemed lost since club legend Paolo Maldini departed last summer.
Even the December appointment of Sergio Conceicao to replace Paulo Fonseca hasn't righted the ship. All signs point to yet another manager change after this season ends.
For bettors looking ahead, Paratici's appointment could signal a significant shift in Milan's fortunes. His eye for talent might make the Rossoneri a smart long-term investment in next season's Serie A title race.
Paratici's main mission is crystal clear: bring AC Milan back to the top of Italian and European football. Given his track record of building winning teams, Milan fans have reason for optimism despite their current struggles.
The appointment represents a major power shift in Italian football. With Paratici returning to Serie A, we could see a revitalized Milan challenging the dominance of Inter and Juventus in coming seasons. For anyone considering longer-term bets, this backroom change might be more significant than any single player transfer.
