Why Fonseca wants Milan and the surprise regarding his salary

AC Milan are expected to announce Paulo Fonseca as their new head coach in the not too distant future, but the salary that he will reportedly earn has raised some eyebrows.

This morning’s edition of Corriere dello Sport confirm that the Milan management decided to rely on a coach who can carry forward the tactical project of his predecessor Stefano Pioli, therefore opting against a major overhaul.

Fonseca’s entourage are in contact with the Rossoneri leadership to complete all the bureaucratic steps and then, next week, the announcement of his appointment could arrive. He will sign a two-year deal, therefore until 2026, with an option for a third season.

However, the paper adds that the Portuguese coach will receive a lower salary than Pioli, getting €2.5m net per season plus bonuses which would take it up to €3m. This is considered a surprise, especially for those who expected a more ambitious hire.

The management explored and evaluated various coaching profiles before deciding, in a collegial manner, to focus on Fonseca, who in turn declined Lille’s renewal offer and rejected Olympique Marseille – who also offered him a higher salary – to join Milan.

Fonseca chose Milan for their international reputation and the possibility of playing in the Champions League, while the Diavolo chose him for his style of play and his ability to enhance young players.

The experience he has was also a factor: he won three titles in Ukraine, and has coached in Portugal, Italy and France, while with Roma he also managed to reach a Europa League semi-final.