Allegri returns to Milan on €5.5m deal, given key role in transfer strategy

AC Milan have officially reappointed Massimiliano Allegri as manager, bringing back the experienced Italian 15 years after his first spell in charge.

The 57-year-old returns to the San Siro on a two-year deal with options for a third and fourth season, reportedly worth €5.5 million per year plus bonuses.

Allegri replaces Sergio Conceicao, who was dismissed after a turbulent stint that included a Supercoppa Italiana win against Inter Milan, but also a Champions League exit at the play-off stage.

The decision to rehire Allegri was finalised in just 48 hours following a rapid push led by new sporting director Igli Tare.

Allegri met with club directors Giorgio Furlani, Paolo Scaroni and Tare at the offices of his agent Giovanni Branchini, where the final agreement was signed.

The appointment marks a significant step in Milan’s efforts to re-establish themselves as a dominant force in Italian football.

Allegri previously guided Milan to their 18th Scudetto in 2010-11 and won the Italian Super Cup the following year, before departing in January 2014.

His managerial journey began in the lower tiers of Italian football with Aglianese and included stints at SPAL, Grosseto and Sassuolo, before his top-flight debut with Cagliari in 2008.

After Milan, Allegri enjoyed major success with Juventus, winning five consecutive Serie A titles from 2014 to 2019 and reaching two Champions League finals.

He returned to Juventus in 2021, but his second spell was less fruitful, yielding only a Coppa Italia title before parting ways at the end of the 2023-24 season.

Now back in red and black, Allegri has been assured of a central role in Milan’s transfer strategy, with a say on both incoming and outgoing moves.

He is expected to begin contacting his new players shortly, laying out the club’s renewed ambition to return to the top of Italian and European football.

The appointment follows a year of managerial instability for Milan, who parted ways with Stefano Pioli in 2024 before quickly dispensing with Paulo Fonseca and Conceicao.

Allegri’s return signals a shift toward stability and proven leadership as Milan attempt to rebuild after a turbulent campaign.