Milan market: Andoni Iraola very close but many are calling for another name

After the disappointment of the failure to qualify for the Champions League with the consequent exoneration of coach Massimiliano Allegri, Milan is already on the hunt for the right profile to whom to entrust the bench. A very delicate choice, called to restore an identity and a future to the meneghina team, which is living a decidedly agitated moment due also to the announced refounding of the management.

At the top of the wish list, sponsored at the forefront by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is Andoni Iraola. The former Athletic Bilbao flag-bearer, coming off an extraordinary three-year spell at the helm of Bournemouth in the Premier League (culminating with the club’s first historic qualification to a European cup, specifically the Europa League) has decided not to renew his contract with the English club. A strong choice, driven by a desire to measure himself against another challenge. Milan sniffed out the deal and pounced on the Basque coach.

Time, however, is Milan’s worst enemy. Being a luxury parameter zero, a veritable waltz of suitors has already been unleashed on Iraola: Crystal Palace is ready to make madness by offering a four-year €4 million-a-season deal, while in the background the Spanish big names remain vigilant. For this reason, Milan’s management already has a new meeting on the agenda soon to armor the deal and file the last economic and contractual details.

There are, however, those who say no: in fact, there are many who vent their discontent on social media, calling Iraola a bet suitable for an ambitious mid-table club (as Bournemouth was precisely) rather than for a club aiming to add trophies to its trophy cabinet. In this sense, the most acclaimed name is that of Antonio Conte, who has just freed himself from Napoli and is looking for new stimuli: the national team option remains in pole position but there are many Milanese fans who are also willing to “forgive” him his past at Juventus and Inter, just to see him replicate what he did not only with the Old Lady and the Beneamata, but also with Napoli itself.

RedBird, however, is intent on shooting straight, despite the fact that the fans’ protest has not subsided and, indeed, now has Ibrahimovic himself in its sights: the next few weeks will be decisive for the future of the Rossoneri, the environment is hot and the margin for error really minimal.