Milan's "X" Factor

From last summer onwards, AC Milan has maintained a tradition during the transfer window—a pursuit for the mysterious "X" player.

In its first iteration, the title fell to Redondo, with the club shelling out $17 million for his reputation. However, from a purely competitive standpoint, the transfer ended in failure.

This season, with AC Milan already failing on its two major fronts—the league title and the Champions League—Berlusconi has initiated a new round of "X" player signings.

Unlike previous noisy but hollow pursuits, this time Berlusconi seems serious about restoring fans' faith in the club. His decisive order to sack Zaccheroni was a clear signal.

"AC Milan doesn't even have a head coach right now. Discussing player transfers at this stage seems absurd."

The breeze swept by as Aldrich sat on a park bench, phone in hand, while his two sons leaned in, eavesdropping on his conversation.

No matter who AC Milan wanted to buy, Aldrich had a consistent answer: not for sale.

Revealing any transfer news before the season's conclusion could destabilize team morale.

For an Italian club like AC Milan, having or not having a head coach makes little difference in transfer dealings. Unlike in the Premier League, where managers often double as decision-makers in transfers, Italian clubs separate these responsibilities.

However, without a coach in place, it's unlikely that any notable player—let alone Millwall's—would consider joining AC Milan. What if they ended up clashing with an incompatible coach? That would be career suicide.

Galliani, a long-time acquaintance of Aldrich, understood that calling now for transfer discussions would yield no results.

"My old friend, I just want to let you know—if any names pop up in the Milan media, don't be alarmed. What I can promise is that we won't secretly approach your players."

"Understood," Aldrich replied.

Aldrich exchanged a few more words with Galliani before ending the call. He looked up at the sky, the clouds shifting like the passing of time, and it became clear to him that another storm of transfer activity was inevitable.

From a club operations perspective, as long as teams avoid direct contact with players, media speculation is par for the course.

It was much like last summer when Millwall was linked to Beckham and Owen in the press.

AC Milan's situation was unique. Berlusconi's political ambitions turned PR into a vital weapon—exciting the public, sustaining interest, and spinning long-drawn-out transfer sagas into a form of promotion.

Aldrich stood up and took his sons' hands, and as they made their way home, they began a rock-paper-scissors game. The winner would move forward, while the loser would stay behind. They laughed and played happily, enjoying the simple joy of the moment on their community streets.

Following the dismissal of AC Milan's coach, Berlusconi declared his ambitious plan for a high-profile transfer. The Italian press eagerly fueled the fire, each outlet offering its theories on who this mysterious "Mr. X" might be.

At the top of the list were national team players Pirlo, Zambrotta, Gattuso, and Materazzi—all rumored candidates.

Much like the British with their outward gentlemanly demeanor concealing an innate sense of superiority, Italian football had its own distinct pride. Serie A had reigned supreme for over a decade, and no one could foresee its decline to second, third, or even fourth place among Europe's leagues.

While Serie A remained a star-studded competition, its most successful Italian players over the past two years weren't playing domestically. With the Ballon d'Or dominated by Zidane and Shevchenko, both foreign players, Italian media were desperate to see their overseas stars return to bolster Serie A's reputation and competitiveness.

Unlike veterans like Zola, who left for fresh challenges late in their careers, players like Pirlo and Zambrotta had made their names abroad as rising stars. Italians felt it was high time they came home.

At the Italian national team training camp, Gattuso lay on his bed reading La Gazzetta dello Sport. His roommate, Pirlo, fresh from a shower, grabbed a drink and sat down.

"What do you think?" Gattuso asked, handing the paper to Pirlo, who didn't bother to take it. The news was already circulating within the squad—a long-standing topic: "Wouldn't it be great if you all came back to Italy?"

Returning to Serie A would guarantee more opportunities in the national team and strengthen the league's clubs—no doubt about it.

Pirlo dismissed the subject with a few casual words and prepared to rest.

But Gattuso wasn't letting it go. He climbed onto Pirlo's bed, pressing for an answer.

Sighing, Pirlo finally replied, eyes closed, "Come on, Milan doesn't even have a coach. Next season, they might not even qualify for the Champions League."

His meaning was clear.

Considering a move to AC Milan now?

Madness.

Especially for someone like him, whose role required a specific tactical framework. An average coach wouldn't know how to utilize him effectively.

Gattuso lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts spinning endlessly.

AC Milan—it was his dream destination since childhood, his first love in the world of football, the symbol of the Milan dynasty.

Deep down, there was an unspoken consensus among these Italian players: they couldn't end their careers at Millwall. It was impossible.

If they were English, or from a country outside England, Italy, and Spain, or if Millwall happened to be an Italian club, they could easily spend their whole careers at Millwall without a second thought!

But life wasn't just about football. Playing was their profession, but there were countless other factors—family, the future, a sense of belonging—all interwoven in a complex web.

Look at the famous loyalists of this era: Puyol, Terry, Gerrard, Zanetti, Totti, Del Piero, Raul, Giggs, Maldini, and so on.

Nearly all of them were natives playing for their homeland's top clubs. Giggs, though Welsh, hailed from a place where the footballing scene wasn't competitive enough to retain him. Similarly, Zanetti, an Argentine, had no powerhouse club in his homeland rivaling Europe's elite. They could commit their loyalty to European giants without reservation.

At Millwall, players like Nedved, Larsson, Schneider, and Southgate could follow that path of loyalty. They were already on football's grand stage, playing for a top club, and they could call Millwall their second home.

But Italian players couldn't do the same.

They had families back home, and Italian family ties ran deeper than in many other cultures. The cultural differences, the language barriers—even if they mastered English, they were still outsiders.

Who wouldn't want to live in a more comfortable environment after achieving fame in football?

Italy wasn't far from England, and Serie A, at least for now, was still considered stronger than the Premier League overall.

Going home?

Yes, it was time to start thinking about it.

Just as Helguera and Capdevila once returned to Spain, the thought of returning lingered in their minds.

Among the names rumored to be leaving, Pirlo and Zambrotta stood out the most. But both had their considerations. Zambrotta wasn't in a hurry, and Pirlo wasn't rushing either, though the idea of returning to Italy had certainly crossed their minds.

Pirlo knew his role was special. If he were to move back to Italy, the first requirement would be a coach who could trust him and utilize him effectively.

Back then, he had only featured once in Serie A. Aldrich traveled to Italy to personally discuss his career trajectory, presenting a clear plan for his development. Now, all he needs is to prove himself on the international stage, and he will solidify his place among the world's top players. His value has risen significantly since then. Any coach hoping to sign him will need to offer the same level of commitment and trust that Aldrich did when he first believed in him.

Another factor that held him back from leaving was Millwall itself. If he were to go, he wanted to ensure that the team had a suitable successor in place.

Having witnessed Millwall's evolution firsthand, Pirlo was deeply attached to the club. He didn't want his eventual departure to leave a void that would harm the team. Fortunately, Millwall had a tradition of nurturing young talent. In his position, Lampard and Alonso were both rising stars. Once they reached a level where they could truly challenge him for the starting role, only then would he feel at ease leaving.

Since Materazzi had established himself as a starter at Millwall, his father, the elder Materazzi, had been urging him to return to Italy. But Materazzi remained unmoved. He wanted to stay at Millwall for another couple of years, to achieve even more honors here. Leaving right after tasting success would feel like an unspoken betrayal.

Gattuso, having just become a regular starter this season, wasn't ready to leave either. AC Milan was indeed his dream, but he wanted to carve out a legacy at Millwall first, not just be remembered as Makelele's dependable backup.

Berlusconi's determination for a high-profile signing was no longer just talk—it was serious.

Millwall had received a direct and transparent offer from AC Milan, leaving no doubt about their intentions.

AC Milan submitted the following offers:

$30 million for Pirlo$20 million for Zambrotta$20 million for Materazzi$15 million for Gattuso

Every Italian player in Millwall's starting lineup received a bid!

Converted to pounds, even Gattuso was valued at £10 million, with Pirlo commanding a staggering £20 million.

This was just the opening bid. If negotiations started, the transfer fees would undoubtedly rise.

This was real money on the table, not just empty talk. AC Milan's aggressive offers clearly signaled Berlusconi's determination to restore the Rossoneri to their former glory.

This was no bluff.

If Millwall had accepted all the offers only for AC Milan to later claim, "Sorry, we can't afford it, the deals are off," the Rossoneri would have become the laughingstock of world football.

Reluctantly, Millwall became a supporting character in AC Milan's narrative. All bids were declined, and Milan ceased further offers, moving to their next phase:

Announcing to the world, "It's not that we couldn't afford them; Millwall simply refused to sell!"

This narrative allowed AC Milan to save face while promising fans they would bring in exciting signings during the summer transfer window.

Galliani's sources confirmed that the four Italian stars at Millwall had no interest in a move to AC Milan.

This was particularly clear after the appointment of AC Milan's new coach.

They had invited the "Star Moon Emperor," Terim, to take charge of the Rossoneri. The news broke just before the second match of the international break, and the four Italian players from Millwall, currently in national team duty, completely dismissed any transfer rumors regarding AC Milan at that time.

Terim?

No, thanks.

He'll need to prove himself in Serie A first.