According to a Milan legend, the club’s foundation is strong — and from the current roster, seven players deserve to form the core moving forward. But does that list include big names like Rafael Leao, Santiago Gimenez, Joao Felix, or Christian Pulisic?
In a period of uncertainty for Milan, a voice from the past has weighed in with advice for the club’s future. Former manager and club legend Fabio Capello has called for calm and strategic thinking rather than a sweeping revolution this summer. According to Capello, Milan’s foundation is strong — and from the current roster, seven players deserve to form the core moving forward.
But does that list include big names like Rafael Leao, Santiago Gimenez, Joao Felix, or Christian Pulisic?
Writing in a column for La Gazzetta dello Sport, Capello stressed the need for precision rather than wholesale changes. “The key to the Milan of the future is one: bringing in two or three top-level players who can truly make a difference,” he said. “There’s no need for total revolutions, with eight or ten new signings.”
Familiar faces and a few surprises
In his analysis, Capello identified seven current players who should absolutely be part of Milan’s future. After some suspense, it turns out Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic do make the cut. Among the seven, Tijjani Reijnders, Christian Pulisic, Youssouf Fofana, Pavlovic, Rafael Leao, Mike Maignan, and Fikayo Tomori were the names singled out.
Capello praised Reijnders and Fofana for their outstanding contributions during a turbulent season. “In a Milan that’s been in general confusion, Reijnders, Pulisic, and I would also say Fofana have stood out,“ the former midfielder noted. “They form a solid base.”
When it came to Leao, Capello was cautiously optimistic. “I saw a Leao who was finally hungry: with his physical strength, if he played at 80% of his potential, he would be unstoppable — that should be his standard,” he warned. But he also lamented that Leao often played at only 40% of his capacity.
As for Christian Pulisic, Capello had high praise: “Pulisic is another player who brings consistency and quality, fitting perfectly in Milan. He’s one of those players who’s guaranteed a 6.5 rating, and sometimes even a 7 or higher. I always ask myself: who could I find better than him?”
The ones left behind: Harsh reality for some
While Santiago Gimenez and Joao Felix were expected by some to be part of Milan’s core moving forward, Capello didn’t offer them the same endorsement. He was particularly skeptical about Gimenez’s impact. “The issue of adaptation exists, in Italy you find less space and different markings,” he said. “But if someone has quality, it shows. The good ones impose themselves anyway.”
Joao Felix, too, didn’t earn a mention among the indispensable. His future at Milan looks uncertain, especially with Capello emphasizing the need for players who already offer “solid guarantees” rather than those still trying to adapt.
