‘Conceicao will not be the new Milan coach’, expert claims

Carlo Pellegatti, a well-known journalist and Milan expert, claims the club ‘will not’ hire Porto’s Sergio Conceicao, proposing a few other options.

The Rossoneri are clearly on the hunt for a new head coach ahead of the summer, planning to dismiss Stefano Pioli after five years to kickstart a new project and era, unhappy with the disappointing results and performances over the last two seasons.

A long list of candidates have been floated as possible options for Milan but multiple reports have recently suggested that Conceicao is the top pick, allegedly having a clause in his new contract at Porto that would allow him to leave for free at the end of the season.

‘It won’t be Conceicao’

Speaking to TvPlay via TMW, Pellegatti revealed what he knows about Milan’s search for a new head coach, suggesting Conceicao won’t take on the role despite the various links.

“I don’t know who’ll come, but I’ll go out of my way: Conceicao will not be the new Milan coach. That’s what I was told, these aren’t sources like people passing by on the street. I checked the news, and another colleague told me that Milan never looked into the matter further.

“In any case, Conceicao will speak tomorrow with Villas Boas, president of Porto. I have no news on Fonseca, Sarri told me no, he’ll be the next name to come out after Conceicao. It’ll also be his turn to be linked to Milan.

“They tell me ‘Thiago Motta is for Juventus, but…’. When we ask about it, they don’t answer. De Zerbi? They told me it seemed crazy to pay for a coach.”

The well-known Milan expert then suggested some possible alternatives to Conceicao.

“I’d prefer them to take an alternative coach. Like Amorim. Maybe you have less guarantee of winning immediately, but that project fascinates me. Maybe Crespo, who won the Copa Sudamericano two years ago.

“A month ago, they told me: ‘Look, we could also hire a coach who has never been appointed’. Arteta was Guardiola’s assistant, Maresca did less well at Parma, maybe go get Klopp’s assistant and find out for yourself.

“I’d like Milan to do something like this. When Berlusconi chose Capello, the newspapers spoke about him in a sceptical and ironic way. Let’s not talk about when he chose Sacchi.”

Finally, Pellegatti discussed two other interesting options on the coaching market.

“A coach who fascinates me is Hürzeler from St. Pauli. He is a coach who would make a difference and who should be followed. I know that Juventus are following Possanzini, not for now, but for the future.”