Six-Month Goal Drought Triggered AC Milan Collapse, Igli Tare Reveals
Former AC Milan sporting director Igli Tare addressed the operational breakdowns and internal tensions that led to his exit alongside manager Max Allegri on May 25, 2026. Speaking in a broadcast interview, the former executive detailed how structural distance from ownership and late-season form drop-offs combined to derail the club’s campaign.
Tare outlined the internal dynamics behind AC Milan’s failure to secure UEFA Champions League qualification, a failure that ultimately triggered sweeping changes across the hierarchy. He pointed to institutional friction and squad selection constraints as central factors in the team’s eventual drop from the upper table in the spring.
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clubIgli Tare Details Gerry Cardinale Distance and Max Allegri Choice
Addressing the managerial criteria presented by senior club management upon his arrival, Tare stated that the instruction from the hierarchy was strictly focused on domestic profile rather than international candidates.
“I was thinking of the experience he brought at that time. When I arrived, the only thing I was asked was to hire an Italian coach, not a foreign one. I had a few ideas for foreign coaches, but the experience with Sergio Conceicao and Paulo Fonseca evidently wasn’t what they were after. Allegri won a lot as a coach, Milan is special to him, he won the Scudetto there first, so of course he was sad at the way it ended.”
Christian Pulisic
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The operational framework proved complicated regarding direct access to RedBird Capital partner Gerry Cardinale. Tare described an initial period of high-level interaction regarding player acquisition before communications were funneled exclusively through intermediary club directors.
“I remember when we were in negotiations for Ardon Jashari, he called and wanted to understand what was happening. He said ‘if you need to spend a little more, just let me know, and I’m ready.’ However, I never got the chance to speak with him directly again, because there were people above me I didn’t want to over-ride. It would’ve been helpful to everyone, not just me, if we’d been able to discuss it directly.”
The structural separation left Tare navigating squad assembly through internal management layers. AC Milan recruited 10 new players during the period, attempting to balance high-profile arrivals with squad departures, but struggled to maintain cohesion through the crucial late-season run.
Christian Pulisic Criticized Over Leadership and Goal Drought
Turning to the on-pitch performance during the late-season slide, Tare highlighted specific individual form issues that impacted the overall dynamic of the frontline, calling out American forward Christian Pulisic.
“The biggest disappointment was Pulisic, I expected more from him in terms of responsibility and leadership. He’s a great player, but some things happened that I had never experienced in my career. Pulisic didn’t score a goal for six months. Santiago Gimenez didn’t score either. I guess these things happen in football, but when you have a drought that long, it ends up affecting the whole team’s performance.”
The offensive slump coincided with a wider collapse where AC Milan picked up limited points over their final 10 fixtures, falling out of top-four contention after remaining second in the table through early April. Additional mid-season adjustments included bringing in Luka Modric to address a lack of dressing-room authority, though Tare indicated further profile additions were ultimately missed.
This interview was broadcast on Sky Sport Italia Calcio Unplugged.