AC Milan is in third place in Serie A, 12 points behind league leaders Inter, according to multiple reports. The team has been eliminated from Coppa Italia and is not playing in any European competition this season, sources said. AC Milan has lost two consecutive league matches and is fighting to secure a Champions League spot for next season, sources said.
The recent defeats have intensified pressure on the squad, with the club's form dipping at a critical juncture of the campaign. The absence from European competition this season has also heightened the focus on domestic performance, making the Champions League qualification a financial and sporting imperative. The team's struggles have been compounded by a lack of consistency, with defensive lapses and missed chances characterizing their recent outings.
Manager Massimiliano Allegri faces mounting scrutiny as the team seeks to reverse its fortunes in the remaining fixtures. Fan protests escalated during Sunday's match against Atalanta, when supporters from the Curva Sud left the stadium in protest. Italian media reported that the protest was directed against the club's management, especially CEO Giorgio Furlani.
The crisis meeting on Monday, called by Furlani, was attended by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, according to Sky Sports Italia. The meeting was convened to address the growing discontent and to discuss the team's performance and strategic direction. The Curva Sud's protest, which saw a significant section of the stadium empty, underscored the depth of fan frustration with the club's hierarchy.
There is a person who has disappeared from Milan's daily operations that no one talks about. It is Ibrahimovic, whom Allegri has forbidden to visit the dressing room and who is keeping away and observing the situation.
The supporters have been vocal about their dissatisfaction with the management's decisions, including transfer policies and the handling of the coaching situation. The crisis meeting was seen as an attempt to quell the unrest and to present a united front, but details of the discussions remain confidential. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been banned from entering AC Milan's dressing room by coach Massimiliano Allegri, journalist Maurizio Pistocchi reported.
Pistocchi said that there is a person who has disappeared from Milan's daily operations that no one talks about, and it is Ibrahimovic, whom Allegri has forbidden to visit the dressing room and who is keeping away and observing the situation. Two sources indicated that Ibrahimovic has taken a more passive role at the club. Corriere dello Sport reported that the atmosphere between Allegri and parts of the club management is cold.
Calciomercato reported that Ibrahimovic is expected to take a more prominent role at a shareholders' meeting in June. The ban on Ibrahimovic from the dressing room highlights the strained relationship between the former striker and the coach, with Allegri reportedly seeking to limit Ibrahimovic's influence on the squad. Ibrahimovic's passive role has been noticeable, with his presence at the training ground reduced and his public statements becoming less frequent.
The cold atmosphere between Allegri and the management suggests deeper rifts within the club, potentially affecting decision-making and team morale. The shareholders' meeting in June is anticipated to be a pivotal moment, where Ibrahimovic's future role could be clarified, possibly involving a more formal executive position. The exact nature of the conflict between Ibrahimovic and Allegri remains unclear, as does whether Allegri will remain as coach after the summer.
The specific role Ibrahimovic will play at the shareholders' meeting has not been disclosed, and details of what was discussed at the crisis meeting are not known.