Paratici-Milan Deal Collapses: Another Skipped Negotiation for the Rossoneri
Milan, Italy – April 4, 2025
AC Milan’s pursuit of Fabio Paratici as their new sporting director has hit a dead end, marking yet another stalled negotiation for the Serie A giants. What seemed like a near-certain appointment just days ago has unraveled, with the Rossoneri pulling back from the deal due to unresolved legal and contractual hurdles tied to the former Juventus and Tottenham executive. The breakdown, reported widely across Italian media on Friday morning, underscores Milan’s ongoing struggle to secure a stable sporting direction as they navigate a turbulent season.
The collapse stems from Paratici’s lingering legal entanglements and the club’s insistence on safeguarding itself against potential risks. Paratici, 52, is currently serving a 30-month ban from football activities—set to expire on July 20, 2025—stemming from the Prisma investigation into capital gains irregularities during his tenure at Juventus. While Milan were prepared to appoint him as an external consultant until the ban lifts, a critical sticking point emerged: the Rossoneri demanded an exit clause in his contract to protect against further fallout from an upcoming criminal verdict expected on April 15. Paratici, however, balked at the terms, leaving negotiations at a standstill.
“It was almost done, but now it’s a sudden stop,” wrote Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Luca Bianchin, echoing sentiments from MilanNews.it and Football Italia. The club’s lawyers had been working with Paratici’s team to finalize the deal, but Milan’s need for operational certainty in the crucial summer transfer window clashed with the uncertainty surrounding his legal status. “The Rossoneri can’t afford to have a sporting director sidelined until late July,” a source close to the club told Corriere della Sera. With Paratici unable to negotiate transfers or represent Milan in official capacities until his ban ends, the timing proved a dealbreaker.
This isn’t the first time Milan have stumbled in their search for a sporting director. The role has remained vacant since last season, with CEO Giorgio Furlani and technical director Geoffrey Moncada steering the club’s strategy amid a ninth-place finish in Serie A. Earlier candidates like former Lazio chief Igli Tare and Andrea Berta (now at Arsenal) also slipped through Milan’s grasp, leaving fans frustrated with what some on X call “stupid management.” One user vented, “We knew Paratici’s ban lasted until July, so why waste time negotiating just to abandon it now?”
Paratici’s appeal was clear: his track record at Juventus—where he orchestrated signings like Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala—and his stint at Tottenham made him a marquee name to revitalize Milan’s sporting project. Talks had progressed rapidly, with Furlani meeting Paratici in London earlier this week, and reports suggested a verbal agreement was in place. Yet, the Rossoneri’s caution, heightened by Paratici’s rejection of a Tottenham return in favor of a Serie A comeback, ultimately derailed the move. “Legal obstacles are too high,” Bianchin noted, signaling Milan’s shift to alternative options.
The fallout leaves Milan scrambling as the season nears its end. Names like Tare and Tony D’Amico, previously sidelined, are back in the frame, though no clear frontrunner has emerged. Meanwhile, Paratici’s next step remains uncertain—his ban limits his immediate options, but his reputation ensures interest from other clubs once he’s free to operate fully. For Milan, this latest skipped negotiation adds to a narrative of indecision, with fans and pundits alike questioning whether the club can align its ambitions with decisive action.
As the Rossoneri prepare for their next match, the focus off the pitch remains on finding stability. “Another missed opportunity,” lamented a Milan supporter on X. “How long until we get this right?”
By Staff Writer, Serie A Chronicle