Serie A returns this week and below we take you through our Milan season preview! Before the start of the 2023/24 Serie A campaign, we are previewing the top six clubs in the Italian top flight. We have already previewed Napoli, Inter and Juventus.
Check out our Milan season preview below which includes: a 2022/23 season recap, pre-season form, transfers, opening fixtures, predicted lineup, one to watch and their season target. It’s time for our Milan season preview!
Milan Season Preview
2022/23 Season Recap
Milan failed to defend their Serie A crown last season as they finished in fourth. It was an underwhelming campaign for the Rossoneri who floated in and around the top-four throughout the season. Having dropped points in 18 of their 38 league games, they simply did not pick up enough wins during the 2022/23 campaign.
A deep Champions League run was at the forefront of many in Milan last season. They would eventually clash with rivals Inter in the semi-final before they were dumped out by a 3-0 aggregate scoreline. Milan’s Coppa Italia performance wasn’t good enough as they were knocked out at the round of 16 by Torino. They also lost 3-0 in the Supercoppa Italiana final against Inter.
Pre-season Form:
Lumezzane (N) W 7-0 (Goals: Tommaso Pobega x2, Junior Messias, Lorenzo Colombo x2, Luka Romero, Kevin Zeroli)
Real Madrid (N) L 3-2 (Goals: Fikayo Tomori, Luka Romero)
Juventus (N) D 2-2 (Lost 4-3 on pens) (Goals: Malick Thiaw, Olivier Giroud)
Barcelona (N) L 1-0
Monza (A) D 1-1 (Won 6-5 on pens) (Goals: Christian Pulisic)
Trento (N) L 1-0
Etoile du Sahel (N) W 4-0 (Goals: Ruben Loftus-Cheek x3, Olivier Giroud)
Novara (N) W 4-2 (Goals: Samuel Chukwueze, Noah Okafor, Davide Calabria, Lorenzo Colombo)
Transfers In:
Samuel Chukwueze (right winger) Villarreal; Christian Pulisic (right winger) Chelsea; Yunus Musah (central midfield) Valencia; Tijjani Reijnders (central midfield) AZ Alkmaar; Ruben Loftus-Cheek (central midfield) Chelsea; Noah Okafor (centre-forward) Red Bull Salzburg; Luka Romero (right winger) Lazio; Marco Sportiello (goalkeeper) Atalanta; Lorenzo Colombo (centre-forward) Lecce (end of loan)
Transfers Out:
Sandro Tonali (central midfield) Newcastle; Ante Rebic (left winger) Besiktas; Ciprian Tatarusanu (goalkeeper) Abha; Andrea Jungdal (goalkeeper) Cremonese; Gabriele Bellodi (centre-back) Olbia; Antonio Mionic (central midfield) SK Lisen; Marco Brescianini (central midfield) Frosinone; Matteo Gabbia (centre-back) Villarreal (loan); Junior Messias (right winger) Genoa (loan); Daniel Maldini (attacking midfielder) Empoli (loan); Marco Nasti (centre-forward) Bari (loan); Devis Vasquez (goalkeeper) Sheffield Wednesday (loan); Zlatan Ibrahimovic (centre-forward) Retired; Brahim Diaz (attacking midfielder) Real Madrid (end of loan); Sergino Dest (right-back) Barcelona (end of loan); Aster Vranckx (central midfield) Wolfsburg (end of loan); Tiemoue Bakayoko (defensive midfield) Chelsea (end of loan)
Summary of Transfers
It has been an eventful summer for Milan thus far. It all started with the sale of midfielder Sandro Tonali to Newcastle United. He joined the Magpies for a fee of around €70 million which made him the most expensive Italian of all-time. Many across Serie A, not just Milan fans, were hit hard by the sale of Tonali as the Premier League continues to dominate the European transfer market.
Nevertheless, it looks as though the Rossoneri have recruited well and have used the money generated from the Tonali sale to improve their squad across the board. Direct central midfield replacements have come in the form of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Yunus Musah and Tijjani Reijnders.
They have also strengthened on the wings too. The likes of Samuel Chukwueze and Christian Pulisic have joined the club, whilst Ante Rebic and Junior Messias have gone the other way. More attacking options in the midfield were needed too after the end of Brahim Diaz’s loan. Noah Okafor will add more options up top after his move from RB Salzburg, especially after the retirement of legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Lorenzo Colombo currently looks set for a depth role up top as well after his loan return from Lecce.
Opening Five 2023/24 Serie A Fixtures
Bologna (A)
Torino (H)
Roma (A)
Inter (A)
Verona (H)
It is not the easiest of starts for Milan to start the 2023/24 Serie A campaign. Milan failed to take all three points away from Bologna last term and suffered defeat in the ‘away’ fixture against Inter. They also drew at the Stadio Olimpico when they played Roma last season. Anything but six points from the home matches against Torino and Verona will be a big disappointment.
Predicted Line-up:
(4-3-3): Mike Maignan; Davide Calabria; Malick Thiaw, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Rade Krunic, Tijjani Reijnders; Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud, Rafael Leao
Magic Mike is the clear first choice in goal for Milan. There are a few options at right-back in the form of Davide Calabria, Alessandro Florenzi and Pierre Kalulu. The latter can also feature at centre-back. Malick Thiaw and Fikayo Tomori are set for the starting centre-back roles but Simon Kjaer is also an option. Theo Hernandez will continue to excel over on the left.
Rade Krunic and Reijnders appear to be the first choice in the double pivot for now, especially with Ismael Bennacer still out due to injury. Loftus-Cheek can also be deployed deeper but has been used in a more advanced role during pre-season. Tommaso Pobega, Musah and Yacine Adli will be the depth choices for the time being. Charles De Ketelaere is still at the club for now too but he continues to be linked with a move to Atalanta.
Going forward, Pulisic, Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao are the likely starting options. However, there are other options too. The likes of Chukwueze, Okafor and Alexis Saelemaekers will be pushing for a spot in the starting lineup.
One to Watch
Christian Pulisic
The USA international has shown flashes of his quality throughout his career but failed to really push on at Chelsea. Nevertheless, his summer move to Milan could help spark a revival. He is just 24-years-old and still has plenty of years left in his career. He could really push on over on the right wing for the Rossoneri this season and start living up to his potential.
Season Target
There have been murmurs of Milan potentially being able to go for the Scudetto and many have been impressed with their recruitment this summer. They could surprise a few if their new additions hit the ground running but expectations need to be managed. A spot in the top-four will be required with the hope of a potential title challenge.