Milan sporting director: Key date, main candidates and Ibrahimovic role | OneFootball

Sky Sport transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio confirms Fabio Paratici and Igli Tare are the frontrunners for the Milan sporting director role. However, a final decision will only be made after Easter, and internal balance within the club ‘must be understood.’

The Rossoneri have begun the process of hiring a new sporting director, and CEO Giorgio Furlani met with Paratici earlier this week.

Sky Sport transfer expert Di Marzio provided the latest updates on this front on Wednesday: “American owners tend to conduct multiple interviews, sometimes seven, eight, or ten, to select the members of the sporting department,” the reporter said via Milannews.

Milan sporting director: Key date, main candidates and Ibrahimovic’s role

Santiago Gimenez Zlatan Ibrahimovic @acmilan

“After Cardinale and Ibrahimovic conducted initial interviews, Giorgio Furlani took charge of the decision on the sporting director.

“Paratici and Tare are the leading candidates, aside from potential surprises like Tony D’Amico or foreign options.

“Furlani recently met with Paratici, but a final decision hasn’t yet been made,” Di Marzio continued.

“The evaluation of pros and cons will continue in the coming days, so the process will take some time, possibly after Easter. If a decision had already been made, the new executive would be working already. No one has secured a definitive agreement.”

Ibrahimovic has been serving as Red Bird’s advisor since December 2023, but hasn’t been around the first team for a few weeks.

“He’s been somewhat distant from Milanello in recent days, partially due to health reasons,” Di Marzio explained.

“He will return in the coming hours. The internal balance between the various roles in the club must be understood. They’ll see whether they can move forward together or if someone’s head will have to roll.”

Milan CEO Furlani met owner Gerry Cardinale in New York earlier this month and reportedly discussed the balance of power within the club.

After that meeting, Furlani was tasked with identifying and hiring the ideal sporting director for Milan for 2025-26.

Milan sit 9th in the Serie A table, six points below fourth-placed Bologna.