Sky journalist implies Milan have reneged in manager pursuit: 'Climate of total distrust'

Sky journalist Manuele Baiocchini has provided an update on AC Milan’s search for a new head coach, confirming that the management have taken note of the Julen Loptegui ‘uprising’.

Over the weekend a number of reliable sources stated that Milan had unanimously agreed internally that Lopetegui is the right man to take over from Stefano Pioli at the end of the season, after a long period of evaluations and some meetings between the parties.

The Basque coach is absolutely ready to start a new challenge at Milan and has rejected West Ham United because he wishes to join the Rossoneri, but once the news emerged a petition against his hiring has reached 8,000 signatures.

That has since led to suggestions that Milan have had to pull back on their plans and assess things once again, knowing that making a largely unpopular appointment after a negative season could be a PR disaster.

Baiocchini spoke live on Sky and was asked for the latest updates on Milan and their quest to find the right replacement for Pioli, with his comments coming via MilanNews.

“The Pioli era is over, or in any case it will end at the end of the season because the club wants to propose something different. I believe that if there hadn’t been all this popular uprising against Lopetegui then Lopetegui would already be in charge, even if nothing has been signed,” he said.

“Instead, now the management will think about the mood, there is a climate of total distrust on Lopetegui despite there having been meetings with the agent, despite Milan having found an agreement for a three-year contract, therefore a medium-term cycle, at significant figures: around 4 million euros per year.

“Despite all this, we cannot ignore what is happening: the fans don’t want Lopetegui. They want an international profile, a winning and established coach, there would be De Zerbi and Thiago Motta.