Medhi Benatia Emerges as AC Milan Sporting Director Candidate
AC Milan may be preparing another significant move behind the scenes, with former Morocco international Medhi Benatia reportedly under consideration for the club’s sporting director position. Several Italian media outlets have linked the 39-year-old with the role, suggesting Milan could turn to his experience as both a high-level footballer and a recent football executive.
The appointment would come during a period of major change at the historic Serie A club. Milan are seeking a clearer sporting direction after a disappointing campaign that ended without qualification for the Champions League. Although the team has made a steadier start to the new season, the club’s leadership structure remains a subject of attention—and the search for an experienced external football specialist may not be over.
Why Milan Are Considering Another Sporting Appointment
Missing out on the Champions League prompted Milan to undertake a sweeping overhaul over the summer. The club parted ways with coach Massimiliano Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and chief executive Giorgio Furlani. The scale of those departures reflected a desire to reassess how football decisions are made, from recruitment and squad planning to the club’s wider sporting strategy.
Ruben Amorim arrived as head coach, while Massimo Calvelli, Hendrik Almstadt, Bobby Gardiner and Domenico Lomonte took on increased responsibilities at executive level. Even with those changes, Milan are still expected to consider bringing in an outside expert who can help coordinate recruitment, identify long-term squad needs and connect the work of the coaching staff with the club’s leadership.
Several names have been mentioned during the search. Ralf Rangnick was linked with the position shortly before the World Cup, but he later extended his contract as Austria’s head coach. More recently, Markus Krösche, Eintracht Frankfurt’s board member for sport, was reported as a possible candidate. Benatia has now entered the conversation, and his background offers Milan a different profile: a former elite defender who has already experienced the pressures of a sporting leadership role.
Benatia’s Playing Career Across Europe
Benatia built a reputation as a strong, composed centre-back during a career that took him through several major European leagues. He played for Udinese and Roma in Italy before joining Bayern Munich in 2014. During his two seasons in Germany, he won the Bundesliga twice and lifted the DFB Cup once, gaining experience inside one of Europe’s most demanding football environments.
He later represented Juventus, adding further knowledge of Italian football and its competitive culture. Benatia ended his playing career in 2021 with Turkish club Fatih Karagümrük. His time at clubs with different styles, budgets and ambitions could be useful in a sporting director role, where understanding a player’s character and adapting recruitment to a team’s needs are as important as spotting technical ability.
For Milan, that experience could matter in a practical way. A sporting director must assess potential signings, negotiate with clubs and agents, and help build a balanced squad rather than simply pursue high-profile names. Benatia’s years as a defender may also give him a detailed understanding of what players need to adapt to new leagues, coaches and tactical systems.
From Marseille Executive to Milan Candidate
After retiring, Benatia moved into football management at Olympique Marseille, the club where he had spent part of his youth. He served as sporting director from January 2025 until June 2026, becoming involved in recruitment and broader sporting decisions. Reports credit him with helping secure several promising transfers, giving him recent experience that could appeal to Milan as they look to strengthen their football operations.
His spell at Marseille was not without controversy. Benatia attracted attention for his emotional touchline behaviour and received several red cards. In mid-February, following a poor run of results and the dismissal of coach Roberto De Zerbi, he announced that he was resigning despite still being under contract. Marseille did not accept his departure, however, and he remained in the role until the end of the season.
That episode may be relevant to Milan’s assessment. Sporting directors operate in a high-pressure environment where public communication, relationships with coaches and calm decision-making can be as important as transfer-market knowledge. Benatia’s Marseille experience offered valuable exposure, but it also highlighted the intensity and scrutiny that come with the job.
Benatia has been without a club since leaving Marseille in the summer and is understood to be interested in the Milan opportunity. No appointment has been confirmed, and the reports should therefore be treated as speculation rather than a completed deal. The club’s final decision may depend on how it defines the role and how much authority the new sporting figure would have within its evolving structure.
What the Appointment Could Mean for Milan
Under Amorim, Milan have made a reasonably positive start to the season, recording three wins and two draws from their first five matches to sit fifth in Serie A. That early form offers encouragement, but it does not remove the need for careful planning. Milan must remain competitive domestically while building a squad capable of returning to the Champions League and managing the demands of a long campaign.
A new sporting director could help establish continuity between seasons, particularly if the club wants recruitment decisions to follow a consistent footballing plan. The role may involve identifying priority positions, monitoring emerging talent, negotiating transfers and ensuring that incoming players fit the coach’s approach. For supporters, the key question is not only who gets the job, but whether Milan can create a stable decision-making process after such a broad leadership reset.
Benatia’s candidacy presents a compelling but unconfirmed possibility. His playing career at Bayern Munich, Juventus, Roma and other clubs gives him a broad view of European football, while his Marseille tenure has provided direct executive experience. The prediction is that Milan will continue assessing experienced candidates before making a final decision. Until the club announces its choice, Benatia remains one of the names to watch as the Rossoneri shape their next sporting chapter.
