Christian Pulisic, Santiago Gimenez, and Luka Modric will all be gearing up for Milan’s return to competitive action this weekend. But the big headline is not just about the players on the pitch. The club’s much-anticipated reunion with Massimiliano Allegri is about to be delayed.
The Italian tactician was expected to lead Milan for the first time since his return as head coach when the Rossoneri face Bari in the Coppa Italia. However, he will not be on the sidelines at San Siro for his “second debut.” Instead, assistant coach Marco Landucci will take charge from the dugout. Why? That mystery hangs over fans ahead of kickoff. The answer lies in a stormy episode from Allegri’s recent past — one that will keep him out of action for not just one, but potentially two games.
The Rossoneri bench was supposed to see a familiar face this weekend. After a spell of dominance with Juventus, Allegri was drawn back to the Rossoneri — the club where he won his first Serie A title back in 2011. The romance of the reunion was building, and many fans hoped to see him pacing the technical area at San Siro once more.
But as La Gazzetta dello Sport noted, supporters will have to wait at least another week: “The ceremony for the reunion will not take place this weekend in front of a large San Siro crowd. Instead, they must wait to see the return.”
What’s the reason for his absence?
The reason Allegri will miss the clash with Bari is tied to one of the most infamous outbursts of his managerial career. During the 2024 Coppa Italia final, when Juventus beat Atalanta 1-0, Allegri completely lost his composure on the sidelines.
According to reports, the 58-year-old furiously confronted officials, tore off his jacket and tie, and stormed down the tunnel shouting at referee Gianluca Rocchi. “It was a classic Allegri moment, with a lot of emotion involved and a tie that didn’t make it through the night,” noted Gazzetta.
The chaos didn’t stop there. Italian outlet Tuttosport even claimed he was involved in a heated altercation with their editor, Guido Vaciago, after being sent off. The fallout was severe: the Sport Judge handed Allegri a two-match ban in the Coppa Italia. He missed his final game with Juventus and will now sit out Milan’s first two matches in the same competition.
For Sunday’s match against Bari, Allegri will be present in the stands but barred from the technical area. His long-time assistant, Marco Landucci, will lead the team from the dugout. The Red and Blacks’ fans had hoped for fireworks in Allegri’s first official match back, but the real “homecoming” will now be delayed until the opening round of Serie A next weekend.
