Bonucci? Cristiano Ronaldo? Former AC Milan sports director admits casting mistakes

Posted on November 29, 2018 at 08H55 – updated on November 29, 2018 at 12:40 pm

David HERNANDEZ

Just like the Chinese presidency, Massimiliano Mirabelli did not last long in AC Milan. The former sports director of the Rossoneri stayed only 15 months before taking the door at the end of last July. Rather discreet since his dismissal, the Italian has made up for lost time Wednesday night by being the guest of Sportitalia. Asked about his brief mandate, Mirabelli chose to play cards on the table especially in the management of transfers in the summer of 2017. All freshly bought by a Chinese investor, AC Milan had the fever and bought without counting, without it being a success. "We spent 15 months very complicated and it would be hypocritical for me to say that we did everything right," admitted the former DS.

Aubameyang priority of Milan and Mirabelli

Massive arrivals a year ago, many have already folded luggage during the last window of the Mercato. Whether Leonardo Bonucci, Andre Silva or Nikola Kalinic, all left the ship after an average season in San Siro. "I do not think you can think of Bonucci's signature as a failure. He was really looking forward to coming to Milan when I contacted him. He was not happy with Juve and we took advantage of it, defends Mirabelli. The only mistake was to give him the armband. Twelve months later, the Italian international returned to Piedmont in an exchange with Gonzalo Higuain.

Cristiano Ronaldo could have arrived a year earlier in Serie A.

The Argentine striker was also one of Milan's targets to strengthen the offensive sector with Andre Silva along with Karim Benzema, Alvaro Morata and Ciro Immobile. But the priority was indeed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to believe Massimiliano Mirabelli. "We had met Aubameyang and he was my only goal for the attack, even though Borussia Dortmund was asking for a lot of money. Only the coach Montella wanted Kalinic. Result of the races, "Aubam" went to Arsenal last winter while the Croatian scored only 6 goals in 41 games before flying to Atlético de Madrid.

The Chinese said no to CR7

All these casting errors have been virtually erased by the new US management but according to the former sports director, Milan could have come back through the front door with a major transfer that will finally be realized a year later at home. enemy of Turin. "We had considered Cristiano Ronaldo and talked about it with Jorge Mendes. We knew he had problems with Real. We talked about the salary but the Chinese owners stopped everything because the costs were not viable. With today's owners, CR7 would have worn the Rossonero jersey. "

With 9 goals in 13 games, the Portuguese would not hurt a club that is struggling to regain its former glory. The five-time Golden Ball is not the only big name to have seen Milanello's gates close, as Mirabelli said he said no to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's return "which did not represent the future". A year later, the song seems very different between the club and the Los Angeles Galaxy player.

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