Bild Journalist Confident Rangnick Will Join AC Milan; Discusses Conditions In Interview

Bild Jounalist Christian Falk spoke exclusively to MilanNews.it on the rumours surrounding a potential move for Ralf Rangnick to take over at AC Milan this summer. There are three major takeaways from the interview as follows:

1. The deal will be completed in the coming weeks and the increased public discussion is an indication of the talks ramping up.
2. Rangnick wants his conditions met by the club before he agrees to the deal and this will determine whether or not the move materialises, the power over operations is the key point.
3. Rangnick wants to bring staff he is familiar with to the club, the likeliest names are Paul Mitchell (sporting director) and Lars Konetzka (coach), however, others cannot be excluded.

You can read the full translated interview below:

“During the Coronavirus emergency, contacts were suspended. Before this pandemic, the approaches between him and Milan had been very hot and recently they have become even more so.”

“Rangnick has known Gazidis for a long time so the discussions have been very blunt. According to my information, Rangnick has already communicated with other people in the club to discuss his ideas. I can imagine that an agreement could be reached in the coming weeks. ”

In the interview Rangnick said that he would like to coach Milan but that it must not be a suicide mission. What did he mean by these words?

“One thing is clear: Rangnick wants a lot of influence in the club. This explains the recent reaction of Paolo Maldini. The Rossoneri manager has the feeling that his skills would be limited by power.

“Rangnick not only wants to direct training or choose information but to make decisions regarding transfers and especially the scouting area. Among other things, the German coach has great influence and competence also in the medical field.

“For this reason he described the assignment as a challenge: if it becomes too difficult to complete it, he will not accept it.”

Falk was asked if there could be some complications regarding his current role as Head of Football Development for the Red Bull football empire, given he is under contract.

“The role that Rangnick holds for Red Bull did not exist before his arrival and I do not think it will exist after his departure.

“It was created especially for him because he recently had some disagreements with Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of Leipzig, Rangnick was moved to resolve the conflict so it was clear from the outset that that job for Rangnick was a temporary solution.”

Many gossip reports that Rangnick is studying Italian with great dedication.

“Rangnick is a very ambitious person. If he does something, he completes it one hundred percent. Not for nothing do they call him the professor in Germany.”

“According to my information, Rangnick said he hired an Italian professor in Leipzig. He studies the language with them three times a week.”

There have been rumours in Italy that Rangnick will ask to bring sporting director Paul Mitchell with him from Leipzig, as well as coaches Lars Konetzka and Moritz Volk.

“The reach of his staff is certainly a central point of Rangnick’s requests. He wants collaborators who are faithful to him and his philosophy. I think Paul Mitchell and Konetzka will arrive.