Benatia for Milan's Sporting Director Chair? The Receipt Isn't Printed Yet

At the end of May, the silence in the San Siro stands was something I cannot forget. Missing out on the Champions League, then the dismissal of Igli Tare—everything was so predictable that the saying 'predictable funerals have the most guests' came back to mind. When Milan owner Gerry Cardinale made the decision, no one was surprised. But now the chatter is about the empty chair. Foot Mercato and Matteo Moretto report that Mehdi Benatia's name is under consideration. I say this is not a receipt yet, just a sketch. After failing to qualify for the Champions League, AC Milan sacked sporting director Igli Tare at the end of May. The search for a replacement has been ongoing since. According to reports, there are several candidates, but no one has emerged as a leader. Benatia—who played for Udinese, Roma, and Juventus—is currently working as a Canal+ analyst after leaving Marseille. He is reportedly happy to return to Italy. Moretto himself said no name has emerged as a leading candidate, meaning this story is still in its early stages. Benatia's profile first draws attention to his playing career. As a centre-back, he played for three Italian clubs and knows the Serie A market. But his experience as sporting director is just one season—at Marseille, a campaign described as 'hugely turbulent.' In February he announced his departure, then reversed the decision, then left in May. This indecisiveness is a red flag. A man who cannot stick to his own decisions—how will he stabilize a club's transfer strategy? I have seen in Germany how sporting directors are developed. From Ralf Rangnick to Sebastian Kehl, the role is not a celebrity project but part of a system. German clubs divide responsibilities between coach and director, building a pyramid. There, a director is not just a transfer broker; he is responsible for the entire pipeline from academy to first team. That philosophy is absent at Milan. Here, the owner makes all decisions, and the director is an executor. In this model, an inexperienced figure like Benatia carries risk. Missing the Champions League means a revenue cliff. Broadcasting income, matchday income, bonuses—all will shrink. In this situation, the sporting director's job is smart trading. Benatia's Marseille track record doesn't prove much in that regard. Whether he bought well or sold at a profit is absent from this report. So questions remain about his deal-making ability. Both Foot Mercato and Moretto report that Benatia is 'open to joining Milan.' That is candidate-side signalling. Agents place their client's name into a live search—standard practice. Moretto's own hedge—'no name has emerged as a leading candidate'—proves this is not a done deal but early-stage intelligence. In October 2026, after India's U-17 team lost 0-3 to the USA, I said it was not a tragedy but a receipt. India celebrated participation for years without building pathways. Milan's situation is somewhat similar—there is brand, but the sporting structure is weak. If Benatia arrives, his authority in the dressing room will be questioned. Players know he has only one season as director. To earn weight, he must deliver results quickly. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe my suspicion of Benatia is unfair. The Marseille exit story suggests a power struggle between coach, owner, and director. Benatia may have wanted change but couldn't get it. If Milan has clear lines of authority, he could succeed. Also, since no leading candidate exists, Benatia's name may have been deliberately leaked by agents to build his market. I once thought India's 0-3 defeat was a disaster. Later I realized it was a receipt. The scoreboard handed me a receipt, not a prophecy. So we should wait before judging Benatia. The search has been running for two months with no leader. This slowness is itself a risk. Pre-season will start, the transfer window will open, and Milan may have no strategy. Juventus, Inter, Napoli—all are strengthening their sporting models. If Milan falls behind, it needs to change not just the director but the whole system. My prediction: if Benatia joins Milan, his first transfer window will show whether he is a real receipt or another predictable funeral. Milan should not rush; they must choose the right person. Because the club that missed the Champions League—its next decisions will tell us whether it truly wants change or is just hunting for a scapegoat. I learned in October that a receipt can take years to arrive. Milan's fans need that patience too.