Serie A giants AC Milan are now strongly pursuing Andoni Iraola to take charge as their next manager, following the dismissal of Max Allegri from the role.

A second round of talks between Milan and Iraola was expected to take place today, with journalist Daniele Longo providing further insight into the club’s renewed interest in the Spanish coach and outlining the reasons behind their admiration for him.

This upcoming meeting marks the second encounter between the two sides. The first discussion, which took place earlier this month, left a positive impression on Milan’s hierarchy. Iraola’s presentation reportedly impressed everyone involved, prompting the club to arrange a follow-up meeting to advance negotiations.

Clubs such as Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen have also shown interest in securing Iraola’s services. Aware of this growing competition, Milan decided to accelerate their approach after the initial meeting, aiming to secure an agreement before other clubs could make progress.

According to reports, Iraola has temporarily paused talks with other potential suitors to focus on discussions with the Rossoneri. This development has increased Milan’s optimism about finalising a deal in the near future.

The Milan management is determined to reshape their sporting project and has been particularly inspired by the work of Cesc Fabregas at Como. They believe Iraola fits a similar profile, especially after successfully leading Bournemouth into European competition for the first time in the club’s history.

Iraola’s tactical approach and footballing philosophy have greatly appealed to Milan’s decision-makers, who see him as the right figure to bring a strong and distinctive identity back to the team.

Kaustubh Pandey | GIFN