Donadoni: ‘Milan do not have clear ideas, maybe time to sell Leao’ in 2025

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Rafael Leao of AC Milan reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between AC Milan and Feyenoord at San Siro Stadium on February 18, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Former Milan star Roberto Donadoni calls the Coppa Italia semi-final against Inter ‘a deadline’ for their season, warning Rafael Leao should be sold and the club ‘does not have clear ideas.’

The Rossoneri are stuck in ninth place in the Serie A table following last night’s 1-0 home defeat to Atalanta, so their hopes of qualifying even for the Conference League are practically wiped out.

Their only real chance of getting into UEFA competition now is to win the Coppa Italia, which would give them a ticket to the Europa League, but first they must get past Inter in Wednesday’s semi-final second leg.

Donadoni analyses reasons behind Milan crisis

“It’s a complicated campaign, they need to learn important lessons from where they went wrong and try to improve,” former Italy coach and Milan player Donadoni told Radio Anch’io Sport.

“Now the derby becomes a deadline. When you are forced to get a result in order to save the season, things get even more complicated. Another setback here truly would make it a failure of a year. I hope that won’t be the case.”

Coach Sergio Conceicao tried to argue that it would not be a flop if they were to follow up the Supercoppa Italia victory with the Coppa Italia.

However, the performances have barely improved since he took over from Paulo Fonseca on December 30.

“Unfortunately, Milan are showing the same problems as usual and there is never just one issue behind it. They need to share out the blame,” continued Donadoni.

“You need a solid club with clear ideas behind a team, and this year, Milan just did not give the sensation of having that. When Milan have found a clearer dimension, then the results will return too.”

It had been hoped that the move to a 3-4-3 formation would get the best out of Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao, but after the 4-0 victory over Udinese, they struggled to keep that momentum going against Atalanta.

“The club has to really dig deep and understand if Leao has the right motivation to remain at Milan or not,” added Donadoni.

“If there is not this ferocious conviction, then perhaps it’s right to consider a sale. If he does not feel fully integrated in a project, it’s difficult for him to give his best.”