Gullit: ‘Champions used to come to Milan, now the club is forced to sell them’

He feels that there is a lack of understanding from the club’s American owners, who he claims are just in it for the business rather than the love of the game. 

“The fact is that American owners, as we have also seen elsewhere in Europe including the Premier League, are unable to fully understand the DNA of the clubs they find themselves controlling. For them, it’s just business. 

“It annoys me that figures like Maldini, who wrote Milan’s history, have been dismissed. Ibra finds himself in a role he has never done before. I think he’s doing his best.” 

Still, Gullit finds it difficult to explain how things went so badly wrong for Milan in 2024-25: “It’s not a bad team, honestly, I don’t know what happened this year.” 

Gullit on Reijnders: ‘It’s normal that sooner or later he might leave’ 

Gullit also understands that there is a realistic opportunity that players like Reijnders leave the club if they are not in a position to fight for major honours. 

When asked about Reijnders specifically and his links to Manchester City, Gullit said: “Tijjani has just signed a new contract, but in today’s football, it might not mean much. 

“He’s a great player, he came to Milan to win trophies. If the conditions to do so are not there, it’s normal that sooner or later he might decide to leave. 

“I don’t think that is the case, but you have to be careful. If he decides to leave Italy it would be an incredible loss for the Rossoneri. Once upon a time, great champions came to Milan, today the club is forced to sell them.”