Mirabelli recalls Milan’s U-turn on U23 team in 2018: “We fought to have them” | OneFootball

The former AC Milan director Massimiliano Mirabelli has shared an interesting background on the introduction of ‘reserve teams’ in Italy. Something he fought for before the Rossoneri changed hands.

It was back in 2018 that the FIGC established the structure for reserve teams in Italy, allowing Serie A clubs to register teams in Serie C. Milan and Juventus had pushed for this development but in the end, the Bianconeri were the only ones that took the opportunity.

Atalanta entered the picture in the summer of 2023 and Milan finally got their team ahead of the current season, setting up Milan Futuro. Speaking to TMW, the former Rossoneri director Mirabelli shared an interesting background on why it took so long.

“I’m very much in favour of reserve teams, I would like to remind those who don’t know that when they were introduced I was at Milan, and with Juve we fought to have them in the first place. Then the ownership of Milan changed, we left and the directors at the time decided not to support Juve.

“In any case, I’m happy that – even if late – Milan got their U23 team. I’m sure that others will follow. It’s positive both for the Serie A clubs who get the U23 teams and those in Serie C. Youngsters get to play in a league of a certain level, and clubs get to face young but extremely valuable teams,” he stated.

While Mirabelli previously has been keen on pointing out his positive work at the club, it’s well documented that Elliott Management and their appointed directors opted against having a reserve team. Perhaps it was because the books needed to be balanced first, with the club in a tough situation back then.