Crucial days for Milan as Ibrahimovic and Cardinale attend UFC at the White House | OneFootball

It is set to be a crucial few days for Milan, who remain in talks with several candidates over their vacant head coach, sporting and technical director roles, but owner Gerry Cardinale and advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic were all smiles as they attended the ‘UFC Freedom 250’ event on the White House lawn over the weekend.

Where Milan stand in search for new head coach and directors

Milan need to appoint a brand new senior management team after dismissing head coach Massimiliano Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and CEO Giorgio Furlani the day after the 2025-26 season ended.

Several candidates have been linked with various management positions at San Siro, but midway through June, no appointments have yet been made.

Milan had been in talks with Ralf Rangnick to take over as the club’s technical director, and it was reported that if the German did take over, he would seek to appoint departing Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner to replace Allegri.

Rangnick, however, wanted full control over decision making and wanted to bring in his own staff across the club. Importantly, Rangnick also wanted his deal with Milan to be wrapped up before the start of the 2026 World Cup, which did not happen, and now, the former Red Bull and Manchester United chief has extended his contract with the Austria national team instead.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA – MARCH 27: Ralf Rangnick, head coach of Austria and Peter Schoettel, Sporting Director of Austria, ahead of an international friendly match between Austria and Ghana at Ernst Happel Stadion on March 27, 2026 in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)

With Rangnick now out of the equation for Milan, Glasner is also considered to be out of the running for the Rossoneri head coach position.

Instead, the new leading candidate to take over the Rossoneri dugout is former Manchester United and Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim.

According to Monday’s reports, Milan owner Gerry Cardinale has directly offered a two-year contract worth €3.5m per season in wages to the Portuguese tactician. That offer would also include bonuses linked to Champions League qualification.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on December 26, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Milan are also seeking to appoint Markus Krösche as the club’s new technical director. The German is currently employed by Eintracht Frankfurt, who are not expected to make life easy for the Rossoneri if they do attempt to lure the 45-year-old away from the Deutsche Bank Park.

If Krösche is appointed, he is expected to bring Frankfurt’s sporting director Timmo Hardung with him.

It is a busy time for the Rossoneri, who have very few representatives left on the ground back in Italy. Meanwhile, owner Gerry Cardinale remains in the USA, as does prominent senior advisor Ibrahimovic.

There has often been confusion over the extent of Ibrahimovic’s powers at Milan, given his close relationship with the owner while not being directly employed by the club itself. Much has also been made about the Swede’s decision to take on a punditry role with Fox Sports for the duration of the 2026 World Cup while also continuing on a number of personal endeavours at such a crucial time for Milan.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Tyson Fury (via Instagram)

The latest outing for Ibrahimovic and Cardinale was at the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House lawn on Sunday, organised ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States declaration of independence.

All smiles Stateside, but work to be done back home in Milan.