It was a very difficult summer for AC Milan. The looming change in ownership from the hands of Silvio Berlusconi to a Chinese consortium saw the Rossoneri transfer affair stuck in a state of nothingness. Vincenzo Montella, the new Coach, didn’t get any of the players he had on the top of his wish-list.

Considering the entire bustle that surrounded the sale of the club, including financial blues endured by Milan over the past few years. There was not much activity from the club in the transfer window due to of lack of funds. The club said goodbye to ten players and brought in five new ones.

Making Milan great again

AC Milan is currently on a rebuild, and has no time for any superstar invasion; instead they are focusing on developing their young Italian force. The next superstar of Milan might currently be on the roster. The addition of Sosa and Mati Fernandez will bring much needed development and leadership to younger players on the team.

One of the key points for Milan this season will be, utterly, no overpaid player from this summer transfer. So there is no pressure on any single individual to try and be the lone savior or justify one’s paycheck. The time for a superstar for Milan will come, the time for some of the young players to showcase their talent and compete against the rivals will come.

This young group of players, who with the right leadership and attitude, can establish a new identity for Milan. For Milan this is the time for collective growth, through dust, pain, and suffering; experiencing victories and losses together.

Key players brought in

The first signing was Argentine Leonel Vangioni on a free transfer from River Plate. The left back made 79 appearances for the Albicelestes over the span of 2013-2016, scoring five goals in the process.

Forward Gianluca Lapadula was the next target for AC Milan, despite interest from top notch clubs like Napoli and Juventus. The forward landed in Milan, he netted 30 goals in Serie B leading Pescara to promotion.

The third signing saw Gustavo Gómez arrive from Lanus for just over 7 million pounds. The Paraguayan international offers vigor and the ability to play from the backline, something similar to Vincenzo Montella’s play style.

Milan’s fourth signing came over the last month in José Sosa from Besiktas for just under 7 million pounds. The experienced veteran will look to add grace to the Italian side. However, it remains to be seen if Montella plays him in a role where he can assert himself as the box to box midfielder.

The fifth signing for Milan happened in the last week of the window as Croatian midfielder Mario Pašalić signed a season-long loan deal. The youngster has the potential to become a chief for the Milan side if he puts on a show with his flair and originality.

Though the new coach was landed directly in an ‘unpredictable environment’, he managed to plan out for season’s objectives. Although the Rossoneri didn’t have the busiest summer that the fans were looking for but Coach Vincenzo Montella was still able to create a squad of 28 players to work with.

Players sold/left

Diego Lopez, who had a contract until 2018, left the Rossoneri on load on the chaotic deadline day of the transfer market for Espanyol. Upcoming exciting Italian talent Stephen El Shaarway left for AS Roma. The hole left by the sale of the experienced Kevin-Prince Boateng to UD Las Palmas will be difficult to fill.

One can say that Montella was lucky, that, Milan youngsters Donnarumma, Romagnoli, De Sciglio, Niang, and Suso will still be staying in the Italian capital. The young force showed that there is belief in youth and that these players will play as the root for Milan going forward. Vincenzo Montella will be looking for more anger in this team, and believe that his squad of 28 is better than what the media and even the boys themselves think.

For complete list of AC Milan transfers, visit here.

Impact players for the season

Goalkeeper Donnarumma who turns 18 in February, has already cached the attention of many. Not only Donnarumma, the young Alessandro Plizzari who is just 16, has also displayed his talent on his Milan debut. He ended the game with a fantastic save in the last minute to secure a 2-1 win in the friendly.

Jose sosa, the 31 year-old has made his appearances with major European clubs like Bayern Munich, Napoli and Athletico Madrid. Albeit on the wrong side of his 30’s, Sosa managed with 14 assists, 9 goals in 31 appearances for Besiktas in his last stint with the Turkish champions. How Montella utilizes the experienced midfielder will be key to AC Milan’s season.

Complete Squad of AC Milan for 2016-2017 season.

Overall, AC Milan did not have the transfer window they so desperately needed to threaten larger sides such as Juventus, Roma, and Napoli. That’s not to say Milan made any bad signings, as most of them were low profile, but might turn out to be high-value players. Plus, Montella will have to work very hard this season so that by the end of the season, the Chinese will also believe in him and commend him with the keys to lead the Rossoneri back to their old winning days.

For now, it is time to blow away this disappointing window goodbye, and anxiously wait for the month of January.

Picture Courtesy: DailyMail, ACMilan