Rossoneri Round-up for 27 March: Italy’s Bonucci asks for “patience”

AC Milan captain and Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci wants everyone to have “patience” with the national team, as the rebound from not qualifying for the World Cup will take time.

While fans and the press may not want to hear it, he’s right. The next World Cup isn’t for four years, so the emphasis shouldn’t be on victory in the next friendly, but how to balance youth and the players of tomorrow with the veterans and how to transition between the two of them.

Starting Donnarumma is the first bit of business that the new Italy manager should do, and embracing rising starts like Patrick Cutrone is another. Milan will play a huge part of Italy’s future success, so it will be interesting to see how far the young stars of Milan will take the national team.

AC Milan and Italian Football Links

Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli says that, despite the lack of a call-up, Juventus striker Paulo Dybala is still in his “thoughts.” [Football-Italia.net]

Inter Milan manager Luciano Spaletti still thinks that Inter can reach fourth place. [Italian Football Daily]

Luigi Di Biagio says that Italy are on the “right path” and confirms that Milan’s Donnarumma will start in goal for Italy today. [Football-Italia.net]

Mario Balotelli has many fans, and apparently Claudio Ranieri is one of them. Ranieri said that he thinks that Balotelli should be recalled for Italy. [Italian Football Daily]

World Football Links

More trouble for West Ham United. British tax authorities have ruled that owner David Sullivan illegally used the club as a tax shield. [Brace The Hammer]

Evangelos Marinakis, the former owner of Olympiacos and current owner of Nottingham Forest, has been cleared of max-fixing charges in Greece. [BBC.com]

When United States national team legend Landon Donovan decided to come out of retirement and play for Club León in Mexico, many eyebrows were raised. So how has he been received? [New York Times]

George Weah’s son, Tim Weah, is ready to star for both the United States and PSG. [SBNation]