Milan – Cremonese Serie A Week 1

The 2025 – 2026 Serie A season is here and Milan start versus Cremonese at the San Siro. To say it has been a summer of change is an understatement, even by Milan standards. A total of 23 players have left or loaned again after being away last season. Tare has been busy finding some noteworthy destinations for the likes of Royal Emerson (Flamengo) for example. The team has signed seven players with an eighth (Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface) said to be imminent. More about all the transfer activity soon with the summer window closing in less than two weeks.

Allegri has found enough bodies for a 3-5-2 for most of the preseason and up to this point. The preference still lies in a 4-3-3 or perhaps a 4-4-2 and additional players and changes may allow the coach to switch to a more oft used formation.

Maignan was said to be another exit candidate and despite a 2026 expiring contract is considered an important player and is instead a candidate for an extension and for the captaincy. The French goalkeeper will start when healthy. A back three likely means Tomori, Gabbia and Pavlovic as starters. New comer De Winter is the only alternative in the thin 22 man squad as it stands. The middle five is almost all change from last season with Saelemaekers on the right and three of Ricci, Loftus-Cheek, Fofana, Jashari and Modric starting with Estupinan the left wing back of sorts. Modric’s minutes look set to be managed even with Milan not having many games this season without European competition.

Leao left the Coppa Italia win against Bari very early with what looked like a muscle in jury. He is listed as day to day and will miss this match and perhaps the week 2 match at Lecce. Gimenez, who is apparently another player on the market, will replace the Portuguese winger. In the absence of another true center forward Pulisic will play up front again.

Davide Nicola’s Cremonese have been active in the transfer window and have acquired three Milan players in Filippo Terracciano and Warren Bondo on loan plus Futuro goalkeeper Lapo Nava permanently.

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