From Osimhen to Sané: Who is George Gardi and why Milan want him to solve their transfer crisis | OneFootball

Milan are considering bringing in external transfer consultant George Gardi to help navigate the club’s summer recruitment amid the ongoing leadership vacuum at San Siro, with the Florence-based fixer’s extensive network and track record making him an attractive bridge solution while the search for a permanent sporting director continues.

According to MilanNews.it, Gardi would not function as a conventional agent or intermediary but as a special external consultant, someone who facilitates complex transfer operations that might otherwise prove impossible to structure.

With internal figures Bobby Gardiner and Jovan Kirovski expected to take on greater responsibility in the short term while working alongside Amorim on squad planning, Gardi would complement rather than replace that setup.

MAY 20: A detailed view of the corner flag on the inside of the stadium prior to the Serie A match between AC MIlan and UC Sampdoria at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 20, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Gardi’s Galatasaray connections and top-level network make him ideal Milan problem-solver

Gardi’s CV speaks for itself.

In recent years he has been the architect behind some of Turkish football’s most ambitious signings: facilitating Victor Osimhen’s move from Napoli to Galatasaray, Mauro Icardi’s arrival from PSG, Lucas Torreira from Arsenal, Dries Mertens after his Napoli years, Alvaro Morata from Milan, Nicolò Zaniolo from Roma, Hakim Ziyech from Chelsea and Leroy Sanè from Bayern Munich, among others.

The Osimhen deal in particular, which required navigating Aurelio De Laurentiis’s complex banking guarantee demands, demonstrated his ability to operate effectively even in the most difficult negotiating environments.

For a Milan side that currently lacks experience, contacts and reputation at the highest transfer market level, Gardi’s involvement could prove invaluable in a summer where time is already running short.