Only four starters remain – the dismantling of Milan’s 2021-22 Scudetto side

Back in May 2022 AC Milan hoisted their 19th Scudetto to the sky in Sassuolo, and fast-forwarding to today there are few remnants of that team left.

La Gazzetta dello Sport goes back to 22 May 2022 when Milan celebrated after a 3-0 win at Sassuolo. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was still playing football, Stefano Pioli didn’t yet have a tattoo on his arm and the feeling was that it was a starting point rather than a destination.

That afternoon two years ago, Milan took to the field with Maignan in goal, Calabria, Kalulu, Tomori and Theo Hernandez in defence, Tonali, Krunic and Kessié in midfield, Saelemaekers, then Giroud and Leao in attack.

Five of that XI are no longer at Milan, while Calabria and Saelemaekers are not guaranteed a starting spot today. Maignan, Tomori, Theo and Leao remain, the pillars on which Milan bases its ambitions for the 2024-25 season.

The first to say goodbye was Franck Kessié, the engine of the midfield, who decided to try his luck at Barcelona when his deal expired and is now in Saudi Arabia. Last summer it was Sandro Tonali’s turn to pack his bags, as Newcastle came calling.