Oliver Glasner is emerging as a leading candidate to become the new manager of AC Milan, following a meeting with the club’s delegation led by Gerry Cardinale in Zurich. According to reports in Italy, Glasner recently posted a farewell message to Crystal Palace which, viewed in a new light, appears to outline his ambitions for a future Italian project. He expressed pride in building a team and establishing a competitive mentality at the Premier League club.
Glasner’s managerial career includes winning the FA Cup with Crystal Palace, defeating Manchester City in the final, as well as securing the Community Shield against Liverpool on penalties and lifting the Europa Conference League trophy with Rayo Vallecano. A key aspect of his appeal to Milan is his tactical preference for a 3-4-2-1 formation, which is similar to the 3-5-2 system Milan employed last season, potentially minimizing the need for significant squad overhaul.
The potential appointment of Glasner is not directly linked to Ralf Rangnick, despite the Austrian being initially suggested as a candidate. There is reportedly some division within Milan’s leadership regarding Rangnick’s potential arrival as technical director, with Zlatan Ibrahimović reportedly hesitant about granting him full control and the prospect of a large contingent of his associates taking key positions within the club.
Milan’s leadership is also in contact with Rangnick, and are expected to update him on the discussions with Glasner. The club is also considering other options, including Matthias Jaissle, currently at Al-Ahli, though securing his release would require a fee in the region of €6-7 million. Ramon Planes, formerly a director of sport at Al-Ittihad, has emerged as another potential candidate, and his less comprehensive approach may be seen as complementary to Glasner’s appointment.
Arne Slot remains a candidate, and his strong relationship with Rafaela Pimenta, who also has a good rapport with Ibrahimović, keeps him in contention. However, Slot is seeking clarity and assurances about the project, and may be reluctant to take on a complete rebuild, particularly without guaranteed Champions League revenue. Ibrahimović is scheduled to travel to the United States at the end of the week to begin his role as a commentator for Fox Sports during the World Cup.
