Dejan Savicevic leaves no stone unturned when judging Milan's season, defining the fifth place finish as an unacceptable result and pointing the finger at 's management. A former AC Milan star, he gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport expressing strong disappointment at the failure to qualify for the Champions League. Savicevic admitted that he had not foreseen such a flop, underlining that for a club of the Rossoneri's caliber access to the top European competition should be an obligation.
The former Montenegrin then pressed on the transfer issue, claiming that the management made a serious strategic mistake in not selling the Portuguese during the last transfer session. The criticisms go beyond the purely tactical or economic level, touching on the player's attitude. According to Savicevic, Leao appears to prioritize other interests, specifically music, rather than football and the responsibilities that come with wearing the AC Milan shirt.
This merciless analysis suggests a gap between the expectations placed on the talent and the actual performance on the field, fueling doubts about his professional integrity. The interview raises considerable fuss, positioning the former champion among the most severe critics of the current technical and corporate management. His words are not simple complaints, but a real indictment of a perceived lack of ambition and the mental toughness of the group.
Milan's season was characterized by a series of mixed results, with high-level performances alternating with lapses in concentration that jeopardized their European run. Savicevic, who knows well the pressure of wearing the Rossoneri shirt, underlines how the club has lost its historical identity as an ambitious team, replaced by a pragmatism that does not always translate into concrete results. Failure to access the Champions League is not just a statistical fact, but a sign of a deeper crisis involving the management structure and the ability to manage talent.
The comparison with direct rivals weighs further. While teams like Inter and Juventus achieved the objective with safe margins, Milan struggled to maintain the continuity necessary to compete at the highest levels. Savicevic does not spare criticism even for the club, accused of not having provided the necessary tools to build a team worthy of the Rossoneri's ambitions.
His words come at a delicate moment, with the summer transfer window approaching and the need to reverse a course that risks becoming unsustainable. Savicevic's judgment is not limited to a single episode, but has its roots in the recent history of the club. Milan, under the presidency of Paolo Scaroni, has undertaken a transition phase characterized by conservative transfer choices and a talent management often considered timid.
The former AC Milan number 10 recalls how, in the past, the Milanese club was synonymous with ambition and the ability to attract champions, a model that seems lost today. The failure to sell Leao, according to Savicevic, is only the latest example of a broader trend: the management seems to prefer economic stability to the construction of a competitive team, an approach that clashes with the expectations of a demanding place like Milan. The comparison with the recent past is merciless.
Savicevic cites the 2021-22 season, when Milan won the Scudetto with a squad built in a prudent but ambitious way. Then, the company knew how to balance budget and ambition, bringing home a title that today seems like a mirage. Today, however, the club is sailing in murkier waters, with a squad that, according to the former champion, no longer meets the needs of a football that requires speed, intensity and a winning mentality.
His words come as a warning: without a decisive turning point, the risk is to remain anchored to second-rate football, far from the lights of the Champions League. The interview raises considerable fuss, positioning the former champion among the most severe critics of the current technical and corporate management. His words are not simple complaints, but a real indictment of a perceived lack of ambition and the mental toughness of the group.
With the season closed and the transfer window upon us, Savicevic's statements risk weighing on the management's future decisions regarding the squad. The club will now have to decide whether to ignore these external voices or reconsider Leao's position to finance a rebirth that will bring Milan back to the Champions League. Read at MilanNews24
Why this matters
The words of an icon of the past like Savicevic have a notable specific weight in Rossoneri public opinion. Questioning the work ethic of a pillar of the team like Leao only increases the pressure on an environment already in fibrillation due to the lack of access to the Champions League. These observations force the management to face the reality of the facts: the team has lost its identity and talent management is failing. The public debate is now moving from the results on the pitch to corporate choices, with fans who could begin to demand an account of market strategies and internal leadership. Savicevic, with his authority, has brought the need for a clear and ambitious vision back to the center of the debate, without which Milan risks remaining anchored in a limbo of mediocre results and unfulfilled expectations. The comparison with the club's recent winning past makes the criticisms of the former champion even more burning, highlighting a gap between what Milan was and what it is today.
Frequently asked
What did Savicevic say about Milan?
The former star expressed strong disappointment with fifth place in the table, saying he had not foreseen Milan missing out on Champions League qualification.
Why does Savicevic criticize Leao's management?
According to Savicevic, Milan made a mistake in not selling him. He also insinuated that Leao is more interested in music than football, questioning his commitment.
Where were these statements made?
The interviews were given to La Gazzetta dello Sport, where Savicevic analyzed the disappointing season of the Rossoneri team.
What is the main point of Savicevic's speech?
The central point is the criticism of the club's lack of ambition, both in the final result (fifth place) and in not having used the opportunity to sell a poorly motivated player.
How did the fans react to Savicevic's statements?
The former champion's criticism has reignited the debate among fans, with some sharing his analysis on the need to change course and others defending Leao and the management.
What are the implications for the Milan market?
Savicevic's statements could influence the management's decisions, pushing towards a review of the squad and, in particular, towards an evaluation of Leao's future to find useful resources for a competitive relaunch.
