Stefano Pioli remains under contract with AC Milan, despite the club’s announcement of his departure in May. This unexpected development has emerged as the Rossoneri face a challenging start to their Serie A campaign under new manager Paulo Fonseca.
Calciomercato report how Milan’s recent draw against Lazio has failed to address the issues evident in their first two league matches. The team’s defensive frailties, having conceded six goals in three official games, are particularly concerning. An incident during the cooling break at the Olimpico, where Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao were seen distancing themselves from teammates and the coach, has further complicated matters.
While Fonseca is not in immediate danger of losing his job, his position will be evaluated after crucial upcoming matches against Venezia, Inter Milan, and Liverpool in the Champions League. The Portuguese manager faces criticism for the team’s performances and his inability to resolve long-standing issues.
Meanwhile, it has come to light that Pioli’s contract situation was never fully resolved. Although Milan announced the end of their collaboration in May, no formal termination was signed. This was due to an agreement that the contract would be resolved once Pioli found a new club. However, despite links to various teams in Italy, France, and Saudi Arabia, no new appointment materialized.
Pioli’s contract with Milan runs until June 30, 2025, with a net salary of 4 million euros per season. This situation complicates matters for Milan, as they are effectively paying for two managers. Should they decide to replace Fonseca, they could potentially be responsible for three managerial salaries simultaneously.
This financial consideration will likely play a significant role in any decisions the Milan board makes regarding the team’s technical leadership in the coming weeks.
