AC Milan are set to announce the departure of Antonio D’Ottavio from his role as sporting director. The decision comes after a series of disagreements with Zlatan Ibrahimovic over strategic choices involving the first team, Milan Futuro project, and youth sector. The final breaking point reportedly occurred on the eve of the match against Atalanta.
D’Ottavio joined Milan in 2017 as the head of scouting for both the first team and youth sector, working closely with Geoffrey Moncada. He played a crucial role in developing the Milan Futuro project until Jovan Kirovski’s arrival.
The first major clash with Ibrahimovic arose over the appointment of the Under-23 team coach. D’Ottavio favored Ignazio Abate, whom he had previously chosen for the Primavera team, while Ibrahimovic opted for his former teammate Daniele Bonera. Another point of contention was the leadership of the youth sector, with Ibrahimovic pushing for Ajax-influenced figures while D’Ottavio advocated for Angelo Vergine’s retention.
D’Ottavio’s influence over first-team matters had already diminished last summer, with his position weakening further due to Ibrahimovic’s growing authority.
Milan are expected to announce a new sporting director soon. Moncada and Ibrahimovic, with support from Kirovski, will continue to form the core of the management structure. The club is likely to promote internally, with Roberto Carrario and Dario Audasio emerging as the leading candidates, both of whom possess the necessary qualifications for the role.
