Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca is reportedly at the center of a tug-of-war between AC Milan and Marseille. As the season draws to a close, both clubs are vying for his services, with crucial decisions expected in the coming days.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Marseille have presented Fonseca with a multi-year project, while Milan has also listed him as a prime candidate for their head coach position. In recent developments, Milan are evaluating Sergio Conceição as a potential alternative, leading Marseille to reach out to Conceição for a meeting. This meeting, however, yielded no definitive outcomes. The key point remains that Fonseca will play his last match of the season on Sunday with Lille and will start clarifying his future from Monday. The early days of next week are critical for determining his next move. While Marseille highly regards Fonseca, the likelihood of him moving to Southern France appears to be decreasing. Therefore, a pivotal decision regarding Milan’s future is expected in about five days.
Milan have maintained a clear timeline in their coaching search. Following their split with Julen Lopetegui, the club decided to announce their new coach only after the season concluded, out of respect for current manager Stefano Pioli. With just a week remaining, speculation about the coaching position is rampant. Milan are looking for an attack-minded coach, adept with young players, and willing to collaborate closely with the club’s management—qualities that align more with Fonseca than with Conceição, who, despite focusing on Porto’s critical matches, continues to express his desire to join Milan. Conceição currently earns €3.5 million at Porto, while Fonseca’s salary at Lille is close to €2 million per season. However, in this scenario, timing is more crucial than money.
Fonseca has at least three offers on the table. Lille want to retain him, Marseille have proposed a long-term project with significant autonomy, and Milan have initiated discussions with him and his representatives. Additionally, there is a fourth intriguing European offer. Consequently, the upcoming week is vital for Fonseca as he awaits Milan’s official and final decision. If both parties agree, a new era for Milan could commence.
Milan appear to be nearing the end of their coaching search, having considered multiple profiles. Past candidates like Mark van Bommel and Domenico Tedesco are no longer in contention. There have been no recent talks with Christophe Galtier, and Marcelo Gallardo is currently negotiating his departure from Al Ittihad. In Milan, the decision rests with Giorgio Furlani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Geoffrey Moncada. Notably, in the last two days, a Portuguese candidate has emerged as the frontrunner.
