Cardinale says pre-season is ‘up to Amorim’ as Milan will not chase ‘extra two million’

By: Isak Möller

Gerry Cardinale has provided some refreshing comments on Milan’s pre-season plans for the future, confirming that money will no longer dictate where they go.

Over the last ten years or so, it has become far more common for big clubs to travel across the world for their pre-season campaigns. For example, Milan have been in Australia for two consecutive pre-seasons now, taking on Perth Glory and most recently Inter.

While it’s great to connect with local fan bases, the travel is demanding for the players. This summer, Milan played games in Glasgow (Scotland), Perth (Australia), Jakarta (Indonesia), and Wroclaw (Poland). resulting in a lot of travel.

Speaking about the pre-season in his long interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Cardinale said that the upcoming pre-season planning will be decided by Ruben Amorim. Money will no longer dictate where they go. Instead, the best plan for preparing the players will be chosen.

“In an effort to generate new revenue, are you also considering a tour for AC Milan next summer? Will that still be Australia or the United States?”

“We have already discussed it with Amorim, and I will just tell you that if we play friendlies abroad, they will be in the United States next summer. If we do… We haven’t decided yet, and the decision will be up to Ruben.

“It will depend on what’s best for the team: playing friendlies abroad must add value to the group, not bring in a couple of million for the club. Those extra two million will no longer be our goal, as they were under the previous management. That won’t happen again under this ownership.

“Everything we organise in terms of friendlies will be carefully considered with our coach. Every move. And we won’t participate in tours organised by others. We put our players first. We want to help them prepare well to win. That’s our goal, and we aim to achieve it as soon as possible.”