AC Milan has adopted an uncompromising stance under the direct leadership of RedBird Capital founder Gerry Cardinale, establishing a strict transfer and squad policy ahead of the closure of the Italian summer transfer window. According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, high-profile squad members deemed surplus to requirements—including Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana, and Santiago Gimenez—have been definitively excluded from the sporting project and will remain frozen out of the active squad even if they stay at the club beyond the deadline.
The decisive shift in club administration highlights a departure from traditional management models. Under Cardinale’s hands-on oversight for the 2026 summer market, the Rossoneri hierarchy has elected to excise intermediaries and manage departures with absolute transparency, refusing to grant roster spots or playing time to players outside the tactical blueprint. This hardline approach ensures that unwanted players train away from the main group and are stripped of official squad registration numbers for the Serie A campaign.
The Status of Milan’s Out-of-Favour Stars
The club’s active roster adjustments have left several prominent names training in a separate group at Milanello. While these players retain full access to club facilities, dining schedules, and professional staff support, they operate entirely on a differentiated schedule away from the main 30-man group, as detailed by La Gazzetta dello Sport. The official roster registration submitted to the Lega Serie A completely omits their shirt numbers, signaling that the club intends for their next official appearances to occur elsewhere.
Fikayo Tomori faces a complex financial and contractual situation with one year remaining on his agreement, carrying a net salary of 3,5 milioni di euro per season. Because of his contract length and tax structures under the growth decree, his annual cost to the club sits at 4,55 milioni di euro. Having previously resisted moves in past transfer windows under prior management, the central defender now finds himself outside the tactical plans outlined by the current technical staff alongside Cardinale.
Meanwhile, French midfielder Youssouf Fofana has attracted exploratory interest from Premier League sides such as Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, and Brighton, though concrete formal bids have yet to materialize. Fofana commands a net salary of 3 milioni di euro, while Milan seeks a permanent transfer fee between 15 e 20 milioni di euro. Striker Santiago Gimenez has similarly been evaluating potential moves, notably drawing interest from Porto, though negotiations continue regarding valuation thresholds and the structure of potential transfer obligations.
Cardinale’s Direct Strategy and Roster Reset
The aggressive roster clearance stems from a broader internal restructuring implemented by RedBird Capital. Moving away from distant management structures, Cardinale has taken a direct role in addressing both macro-level governance and granular club operations. By establishing clear boundaries early in the transfer window, the leadership aims to eliminate ambiguity for players and agents alike, accepting the financial commitment of maintaining out-of-favour players on the payroll rather than compromising the team’s competitive focus.
As the final days of the summer transfer market tick down, the directive from the ownership remains firm: players outside the sporting vision will not be reintegrated under any circumstances. Share your thoughts on Milan’s strict transfer strategy in the comments below.
