Giorgio Furlani looks set to step down as AC Milan CEO after the club prepares to formally review his future following Sunday’s final-day match with Cagliari. RedBird operative Massimo Calvelli has already compiled a three-name short‑list — Adriano Galliani, Giovanni Carnevali and Claudio Fenucci — signalling owner Gerry Cardinale’s intent to press for a strategic reset at the top of the Rossoneri.
AC Milan set for immediate leadership reset as Furlani’s future hangs in balance
Giorgio Furlani’s tenure as AC Milan CEO appears to be reaching a decisive moment, with the club’s hierarchy due to discuss his position after the season-closing fixture against Cagliari. The move to formalise a review now, and the rapid emergence of a short‑list, suggests owner Gerry Cardinale and RedBird are ready to pivot quickly if they judge a new direction necessary.
Short‑list revealed: Galliani, Carnevali, Fenucci
Adriano Galliani represents a nostalgic, stabilising option. The former long-serving Milan CEO brings unrivalled institutional knowledge and a close relationship with the senior figures in the club, and could act as a short-term fixer to steady internal dynamics.
Giovanni Carnevali offers the opposite profile: a modern operator who has made Sassuolo a model for shrewd recruitment, youth development and financial prudence. Carnevali would signal a push for sustainable, data-driven sporting policy.
Claudio Fenucci has built Bologna into a competitive, over-performing Serie A side on a controlled budget. His candidacy points to a pragmatic rebuild, prioritising infrastructure and recruitment rather than headline signings.
Why Massimo Calvelli’s role matters
Massimo Calvelli, RedBird’s operational point person, has been tasked with drawing up the shortlist — a clear sign Cardinale wants an ownership-led, operationally-focused appointment. Calvelli’s involvement indicates the club’s priority is structural stability and a CEO who can deliver immediate governance, long-term planning and alignment with the investor’s financial aims.
Implications for sport and squad
A change at CEO level will reverberate across sporting decisions. A Galliani return would likely prioritise short-term cohesion and calm; Carnevali or Fenucci would tilt Milan toward systematic scouting, player development and sustainable growth. That choice will influence recruitment strategy, the club’s transfer philosophy and how much autonomy the sporting director and manager can expect.
Context: broader leadership shake‑up
Furlani’s potential exit is part of a wider reworking of Milan’s hierarchy. The club has already signalled changes at sporting director level and faces unresolved questions around senior player roles. Taken together, these moves suggest RedBird is ready to impose a clearer governance model that aligns sporting ambitions with long-term financial discipline.
What happens next
The immediate timeline is compact: a formal review after the Cagliari match, Calvelli’s shortlist to be presented to the ownership group, and a decision expected in short order. Milan’s choice will reveal whether Cardinale’s priority is short-term stability or a structural rebuild — and that will set the tone for how the club approaches the summer window and the next Serie A campaign.
Why it matters
This is more than a personnel swap. Milan are at an inflection point between legacy management and contemporary club running.
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The incoming CEO will define the balance between ambition and sustainability, shape recruitment for years to come, and determine how quickly the Rossoneri can translate ownership intent into on-pitch progress.
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