“Despite AC Milan’s Primavera team falling short in the UEFA Youth League final against Olympiacos, the future remains promising for the club’s youth sector.”
As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, prior to this, no Italian club had made it to the final of the Youth League, marking a significant milestone for many Primavera players. While navigating a close league play-off, preparations for the upcoming season are already underway.
For some, farewells loom on the horizon. Others face contractual negotiations, while fresh opportunities may emerge for certain prospects. The talk revolves around the potential establishment of a U23 team, a concept gaining traction at Milanello.
MILAN’S TEAM B.
The starting point revolves around the U23 team, a concept Milan has been considering to foster the advancement of numerous promising young talents into senior football more rapidly.
This approach has been successfully implemented in recent years by Juventus and Atalanta, the other two Italian clubs that have embraced this initiative. While the decision has been made, progress hinges on a club’s non-registration with Serie C, which would free up a slot potentially filled by Milan.
Ignazio Abate has been performing admirably with the Primavera team, sparking discussions about his future, especially considering his contract status. Currently, it appears that Daniele Bonera, who is part of Stefano Pioli’s coaching staff, is poised to take on the role of U23 manager.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is overseeing the proceedings, while Jovan Kirovski is anticipated to assume the position of sporting director, embarking on a new chapter after serving as technical director for the Los Angeles Galaxy for 11 years. Regarding the stadium, one option under consideration is the Stadio Ernesto Breda in Sesto San Giovanni.
CLASS OF 2024.
With the season entering its pivotal phase, any assessment of the Primavera squad could undergo alterations, particularly with the prospect of a second team on the horizon. Another factor that could shuffle the deck is the transition of the Primavera 1 championship to Under 20 next year.
Currently, the age cutoff is set for players born in 2005, but regulations allow for six 2004-born players to exceed this limit. In response, Milan has taken proactive steps, particularly focusing on a cohort of players born in 2006 and 2007 to raise the standards and push the players out of their comfort zones.
Under Abate’s leadership, the only 2004-born players are goalkeeper Andrea Bartoccioni and central defender Clinton Nsiala, who will be subject to evaluations. Nsiala, whose contract with Milan expires in 2024, was a cornerstone of a squad that reached the Youth League Final Four twice consecutively, a feat unprecedented for an Italian team. Despite several first-team injuries, Pioli called him up on six occasions.