Big-spending AC Milan throw down the gauntlet to Juventus

AFTER years of midtable mediocrity, AC Milan have thrown down the gauntlet to Juventus by assembling a team which supporters believe can end the Turin side’s run of six successive Serie A titles.

Under new Chinese owners, the seven-times European champions have splurged €190 million (RM959m) on transfers and, for a change, the money has gone on players who appear to have their best years ahead of them.

Milan, the last team to win Serie A before Juve’s era of dominance began, have endured a decline which coincided with Serie A’s own fall from grace.

There has been a dramatic change of direction since Berlusconi agreed to sell the club to a Chinese-led consortium in a €740million ( RM3.7b) deal in April and the new owners installed Marco Fassone, an experienced business executive, as general manager.

New signings have included striker Andre Silva ( 21) from Porto who has scored eight goals in 13 appearances for Portugal; rightback Andrea Conti (23), a product of Atalanta’s impressive youth scheme; Ricardo Rodriguez (24), a Swiss international regarded as one of Europe’s most accomplished leftbacks; and Turkish midfielder and freekick specialist Hakan Calhanoglu (23).

The latter two were signed from Bundesliga clubs VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.

The biggest coup was landing Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus, ending the Turin club’s so-called BBC defence that also featured Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini and which had been together since 2010.

“We have chosen players who are ready to go and can give a great deal, who are top players for our level and for Italian football,” said Montella. “The potential is there and it is only a matter of time.”

Milan were still hoping to add a big-money striker to the squad before the end of the transfer window.

Juve were left to spend the summer contemplating their 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final and they started the season by losing 3-2 to Lazio in the Italian Supercup final.

But they still have the top four outstanding players in Serie A – goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, Chiellini and Argentine forwards Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain – and remain favourites. – Reuters