The 2018/19 season was intensely disappointing for the Rossoneri.
After starting the second season well, Milan looked set to reclaim a spot in the Champions League at long last, before a dismal run at the end of the season saw them finish fifth on a dramatic final day. Club legend Gennaro Gattuso resigned as manager shortly afterwards.
New boss Paolo Giampaolo arrival from Sampdoria with a reputation for punching above his weight. He’s expected to implement a drastic change in shape, switching from 4-3-3 to his preferred 4-3-1-2.
That leaves several question marks as to how Giampaolo will adapt a squad with several wide players into what is essentially a winger-less formation.
RealSport looks at how they could look and line-up next season.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (OVR 83 – 84)
Position: GK
Age: 20
Country: Italy
Is there another 20-year-old in Serie A so crucial to their team? It is staggering to think that Gianluigi Donnarumma is already such a refined keeper at such a young age, especially in a position where players tend to develop late. He was a standout performer last season, justifying why he’s considered the finest young goalkeeper in the world.
Davide Calabria (OVR 77 – 79)
Position: RB
Age: 22
Country: Italy
Davide Calabria is another seriously exciting youngster in this Milan side. He showed excellent maturity last season at the tender age of 22 and is solid on both sides of the ball. He’ll be competing with Andrea Conti next season for a starting berth. He receives a two-point boost.
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Alessandro Romagnoli (OVR 82 – 84)
Position: CB
Age: 24
Country: Italy
In his first season as Milan captain, Alessandro Romagnoli performed as well as anyone in black and red. At 24, he’s already a great leader who’s become a fan favourite through determination, great tackles and a last-minute goal here and there. He’s the man to build the team around.
Mateo Musacchio (OVR 80 – 81)
Position: CB
Age: 28
Country: Argentina
Last season, Mateo Musacchio avoided what would have been a battle for a starting spot thanks to Mattia Caldara’s injury. Musacchio is a solid defender, but it will be interesting to see whether Giampaolo casts an eye to the future and favours the promising Caldara. Still, you can expect Musacchio to at least start the season.
Ricardo Rodriguez (OVR 80 – 78)
Position: LB
Age: 26
Country: Switzerland
It feels as if Ricardo Rodriguez’s career has stalled since his days at Wolfsburg. He’s a technically gifted player but doesn’t add as much offensive spark as he once did. With no winger in front of him next season, he will need to provide more going forward if he’s to keep his place. The signing of Theo Hernandez also threatens his game time.
Ismael Bennacer (OVR 71 – 78)
Position: CM, CDM
Age: 21
Country: Algeria
Giampaolo favours a regista at the base of a three-man midfield. It’s the position in which he used Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira to great effect at Sampdoria, and Ismael Bennacer has been purchased to do this exact job. He’s had a stellar year – impressing with Empoli and winning AFCON with Algeria, where he was named Player of the Tournament.
Franck Kessie (OVR 78 – 78)
Position: CM
Age: 22
Country: Ivory Coast
Franck Kessie was a constant presence in Milan’s midfield last season, making 34 Serie A appearances. He’s a solid but unremarkable player – it will be interesting to see if he’s more clinical in the final third next season now Bennacer is playing behind him. His rating should remain unchanged.
Hakan Calhanoglu (OVR 80 – 79)
Position: LW, CAM, CM
Age: 25
Country: Turkey
The third midfield spot is the hardest to call. If Giacomo Bonaventura can prove his fitness, he may start. Alternatively, Lucas Paqueta could play in a deeper role to accommodate both him and Suso in the side. For now, Hakan Calhanoglu starts but still has plenty to prove. His rating drops to 79.
Suso (OVR 83 – 83)
Position: RW, CF
Age: 25
Country: Spain
Suso’s stats tell a different story to the reality of last season. Seven goals and ten assists are an impressive return, but he was not the key man he’s been in the two previous campaigns. He’s somewhat of a luxury player, sometimes spectacular, sometimes anonymous. He is surely too good to drop but will have to convert from winger to no. 10 to fit in Giampaolo’s system.
Andre Silva (OVR 77 – 77)
Position: ST
Age: 23
Country: Portugal
Andre Silva looks set to be the biggest beneficiary of Giampaolo’s shape, simply because he’s the only player in the squad that plays naturally as a second striker. He hasn’t had an easy couple of years; he arrived with big expectations but only netted twice in his first season, then waned after a promising start on loan at Sevilla. This season presents an opportunity for revival.
Krzysztof Piatek (OVR 76 – 83)
Position: ST
Age: 24
Country: Poland
Piatek is set to be one of the most improved players of FIFA 20, especially considering he started FIFA 19 rated 70. He had a stunning debut season in Serie A; scoring 13 league goals for Genoa in the first half of the season before adding another nine for Milan. He’s the solution to their striking problem they thought Gonzalo Higuain would be and is another to build the team around.
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On the bench
Highly experienced keeper Pepe Reina (OVR 83 – 82) will deputise for Donnarumma, who is 16 years his junior.
Andrea Conti (OVR 75 – 77) and Theo Hernandez (OVR 76 – 77) will compete for the full-back spots, while Mattia Caldara (OVR 80 – 80) offers back-up in central defence. If Giampaolo can keep the young Hernandez and Caldara fit and on-form, they may develop into key players.
In midfield, Giacomo Bonaventura (OVR 82 – 81) offers leadership and versatility. They will be hoping for a better second season from Diego Laxalt (OVR 78 – 76), who can play in defence or midfield.
It will be interesting to see where ex-Liverpool and Sunderland man Fabio Borini (OVR 76 – 77) fits into the side, he’s typically a wide man but may feature as a second striker. The same goes for Samu Castillejo (OVR 83 – 83), who’s one of their better players but ill-suited to a formation without wingers.
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AC Milan Predicted Line-up
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