2021–22 AC Milan season

Milan
2021–22 season
ChairmanPaolo Scaroni
Head coachStefano Pioli
StadiumSan Siro
Serie A1st
Coppa ItaliaSemi-finals
UEFA Champions LeagueGroup stage
Top goalscorerLeague:
Olivier Giroud
Rafael Leão
(11 each)
All:
Olivier Giroud
Rafael Leão
(14 each)
Biggest winMilan 4–0 Lazio
Biggest defeatInternazionale 3–0 Milan

The 2021–22 season was the 123rd season in the existence of AC Milan and the club's 39th consecutive season (110th overall) in the top flight of Italian football. In addition to the domestic league, Milan participated in this season's editions of the Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League. It marked Milan's return to Europe's premier knockout competition for the first time since the 2013–14 season.[1]

Milan secured their 19th Italian league title on the last match day of the season, with a club-record tally of 86 points. It was their first league title since the 2010–11 season.

Players

[edit]

Squad information

[edit]
As of 30 June 2022.[2]
No. Player Nat. Position(s) Date of birth (age) Signed
in 		Contract
ends 		Signed from Transfer fee Notes Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
1 Ciprian Tătăruşanu Romania GK (1986-02-09)9 February 1986 (aged 36) 2020 2023 France Lyon €500,000 14 0
16 Mike Maignan France GK (1995-07-03)3 July 1995 (aged 26) 2021 2026 France Lille €13,000,000 40 0
83 Antonio Mirante Italy GK (1983-07-08)8 July 1983 (aged 38) 2021 2022 Italy Roma Free 0 0
Defenders
2 Davide Calabria (vice-captain) Italy RB / LB / CM (1996-12-06)6 December 1996 (aged 25) 2015 2025 Italy Youth System Free From Youth system 185 7
5 Fodé Ballo-Touré Senegal LB / LM (1997-01-03)3 January 1997 (aged 25) 2021 2025 France Monaco €4,200,000 11 0
13 Alessio Romagnoli (captain) Italy CB / LB (1995-01-12)12 January 1995 (aged 27) 2015 2022 Italy Roma €25,000,000 Captain 247 10
19 Théo Hernandez France LB / LM (1997-10-06)6 October 1997 (aged 24) 2019 2026 Spain Real Madrid €20,000,000 122 19
20 Pierre Kalulu France RB / CB (2000-06-05)5 June 2000 (aged 22) 2020 2025 France Lyon II €480,000 55 3
23 Fikayo Tomori England CB / RB (1997-12-19)19 December 1997 (aged 24) 2021 2025 England Chelsea €28,500,000 62 2
24 Simon Kjær Denmark CB (1989-03-26)26 March 1989 (aged 33) 2020 2024 Spain Sevilla €2,500,000 72 1
25 Alessandro Florenzi Italy RB / RM / RW (1991-03-11)11 March 1991 (aged 31) 2021 2022 Italy Roma €1,000,000 Loan 29 2
46 Matteo Gabbia Italy CB / RB / DM (1999-10-21)21 October 1999 (aged 22) 2017 2023 Italy Youth System Free From Youth system 33 0
Midfielders
4 Ismaël Bennacer Algeria DM / CM (1997-12-01)1 December 1997 (aged 24) 2019 2024 Italy Empoli €16,000,000 105 3
8 Sandro Tonali Italy CM / DM (2000-05-08)8 May 2000 (aged 22) 2020 2026 Italy Brescia €20,000,000 83 5
10 Brahim Diaz Spain AM / RW / LW (1999-08-03)3 August 1999 (aged 22) 2020 2023 Spain Real Madrid €3,000,000 Loan 67 7
27 Daniel Maldini Italy AM / LW / RW (2001-10-11)11 October 2001 (aged 20) 2020 2024 Italy Youth System Free From Youth system 25 1
33 Rade Krunić Bosnia and Herzegovina AM / CM / LM (1993-10-07)7 October 1993 (aged 28) 2019 2024 Italy Empoli €8,000,000 91 2
41 Tiémoué Bakayoko France DM / CM (1994-08-17)17 August 1994 (aged 27) 2021 2023 England Chelsea Free Loan 49 1
56 Alexis Saelemaekers Belgium RW / LW / RB (1999-06-27)27 June 1999 (aged 23) 2020 2026 Belgium Anderlecht €7,200,000 101 6
79 Franck Kessié Ivory Coast CM / DM (1996-12-19)19 December 1996 (aged 25) 2017 2022 Italy Atalanta €28,000,000 223 38
Forwards
7 Samu Castillejo Spain RW / LW / SS (1995-01-18)18 January 1995 (aged 27) 2018 2023 Spain Villarreal €25,000,000 113 10
9 Olivier Giroud France ST (1986-09-30)30 September 1986 (aged 35) 2021 2023 England Chelsea €1,000,000 38 16
11 Zlatan Ibrahimović Sweden ST (1981-10-03)3 October 1981 (aged 40) 2020 2022 United States LA Galaxy Free 159 92
12 Ante Rebić Croatia LW / ST / SS (1993-09-21)21 September 1993 (aged 28) 2019 2025 Germany Eintracht Frankfurt Undisclosed 92 26
17 Rafael Leão Portugal LW / ST / RW (1999-06-10)10 June 1999 (aged 23) 2019 2024 France Lille €28,000,000 116 28
22 Marko Lazetić Serbia ST (2004-01-22)22 January 2004 (aged 18) 2022 2026 Serbia Red Star Belgrade €4,000,000 1 0
30 Junior Messias Brazil AM / RW / SS (1991-05-13)13 May 1991 (aged 31) 2021 2022 Italy Crotone €2,600,000 Loan 33 6

Transfers

[edit]

Summer window

[edit]

Deals officialised beforehand were effective starting from 1 July 2021.

In

[edit]
Date Pos. Player A. Moving from Fee Notes Source
27 May 2021 GK France Mike Maignan 25 France Lille €13.0M [3]
16 June 2021 DF England Fikayo Tomori 23 England Chelsea €28.5M From loan to definitive purchase [4]
8 July 2021 MF Italy Sandro Tonali 21 Italy Brescia €10.0M From loan to definitive purchase [5]
17 July 2021 FW France Olivier Giroud 34 England Chelsea €1.0M [6]
18 July 2021 DF Senegal Fodé Ballo-Touré 24 France Monaco €4.2M [7]
30 August 2021 MF Ivory Coast Chaka Traorè 16 Italy Parma €0.6M Joined Primavera squad [8][9]
31 August 2021 MF France Yacine Adli 21 France Bordeaux €8.0M Promptly re-loaned [10]
13 October 2021 GK Italy Antonio Mirante 38 Italy Roma Free Free agent [11]

Loan in

[edit]
Date Pos. Player A. Moving from Fee Notes Source
19 July 2021 MF Spain Brahim Díaz 21 Spain Real Madrid €3.0M Loan renewal + option to buy [12]
21 August 2021 DF Italy Alessandro Florenzi 30 Italy Roma €1.0M Loan with option to buy [13]
25 August 2021 FW Italy Pietro Pellegri 20 France Monaco €1.0M Loan with option to buy [14]
30 August 2021 MF France Tiémoué Bakayoko 27 England Chelsea €2.0M Loan with option to buy [15]
31 August 2021 MF Brazil Junior Messias 30 Italy Crotone €2.6M Loan with option to buy [16]

Loan returns

[edit]
Date Pos. Player A. Moving from Fee Notes Source
30 June 2021 GK Italy Alessandro Plizzari 21 Italy Reggina
30 June 2021 DF Germany Lenny Borges 20 Germany Bayern Munich II Re-joined Primavera team
30 June 2021 DF Italy Andrea Conti 27 Italy Parma
30 June 2021 MF Croatia Italy Emir Murati 21 Italy Vibonese
Total spending:Decrease 74.9M

Out

[edit]
Date Pos. Player A. Moving to Fee Notes Source
22 June 2021 DF Uruguay Diego Laxalt 28 Russia Dynamo Moscow €3.5M After return from loan [17]
30 June 2021 MF Turkey Hakan Çalhanoğlu 26 Italy Internazionale Free Free agent [18]
30 June 2021 GK Italy Antonio Donnarumma 30 Italy Padova Free Free agent [19]
30 June 2021 GK Italy Gianluigi Donnarumma 22 France Paris Saint-Germain Free Free agent [20]
30 June 2021 FW Croatia Mario Mandžukić 35 Unattached Free Retired [21]
9 July 2021 MF Italy Giacomo Olzer 20 Italy Brescia €3.0M With buy-back option [22]
31 July 2021 MF Italy Alessio Brambilla 20 Italy Cesena Undisclosed From Primavera squad [23]

Loans ended

[edit]
Date Pos. Player A. Moving to Fee Notes Source
30 June 2021 DF Portugal Diogo Dalot 22 England Manchester United
30 June 2021 MF France Soualiho Meïté 27 Italy Torino

Loans out

[edit]
Date Pos. Player A. Moving to Fee Notes Source
10 June 2021 MF Italy Marco Brescianini 21 Italy Monza Free After return from loan [24]
14 July 2021 DF Greece Nikos Michelis 20 Netherlands Willem II Free From Primavera squad [25]
14 July 2021 FW Italy Cameroon Frank Tsadjout 21 Italy Pordenone Free After return from loan [26]
16 July 2021 MF Italy Alessandro Sala 20 Italy Renate Free After return from loan [27]
21 July 2021 DF Italy Riccardo Oddi 19 Italy Trento Free From Primavera squad [28]
26 July 2021 FW Italy Gabriele Capanni 20 Italy Ternana Free After return from loan [29]
27 July 2021 GK Italy Leonardo Moleri 19 Italy Renate Free From Primavera squad [30]
28 July 2021 DF Italy Gabriele Galardi 19 Italy Nuova Florida Free After return from loan [31]
29 July 2021 FW Italy Riccardo Tonin 20 Italy Cesena Free From Primavera squad [32]
30 July 2021 FW Brazil Luan Capanni 21 Italy Viterbese Free After return from loan [33]
31 July 2021 FW Italy Lorenzo Colombo 19 Italy SPAL Free After return from loan [34]
9 August 2021 DF Italy Mattia Caldara 27 Italy Venezia Free After return from loan [35]
10 August 2021 FW Norway Jens Petter Hauge 21 Germany Eintracht Frankfurt Free [36]
12 August 2021 MF Italy Marco Frigerio 20 Italy Lucchese Free From Primavera squad [37]
20 August 2021 FW Italy Sabino Signorile 19 Italy Seregno Free From Primavera squad [38]
27 August 2021 MF Italy Tommaso Pobega 22 Italy Torino Free After return from loan [39]
29 August 2021 MF Croatia Antonio Mionić 20 Italy Montevarchi Free From Primavera squad [40]
31 August 2021 DF France Cameroon Leroy Abanda 21 France Boulogne Free From Primavera squad [41]
31 August 2021 MF France Yacine Adli 21 France Bordeaux Free Loaned after purchase [10]
Total income:Increase €6.5M

Winter window

[edit]

Deals officialised beforehand were effective starting from 1 January 2022.

In

[edit]
Date Pos. Player A. Moving from Fee Notes Source
22 January 2022 FW Italy Nigeria Bob Murphy Omoregbe 18 Italy Borgosesia €0.1M Joined Primavera team [42]
26 January 2022 FW Serbia Marko Lazetić 18 Serbia Red Star Belgrade €4M [43]

Loan returns

[edit]
Date Pos. Player A. Moving from Fee Notes Source
31 January 2022 GK Italy Leonardo Moleri 20 Italy Renate Free Re-joined Primavera squad [44]
Total spending:Decrease 4.1M

Out

[edit]
Date Pos. Player A. Moving to Fee Notes Source
10 January 2022 DF Italy Andrea Conti 27 Italy Sampdoria Free [45]
21 January 2021 MF Italy United States Kevin Bright 17 Italy Cremonese Undisclosed From Primavera squad [46]
22 January 2021 MF Italy Alessandro Sala 19 Italy Pro Sesto Undisclosed After anticipated return from loan [47]
28 January 2021 DF Hungary Milos Kerkez 17 Netherlands AZ Alkmaar €2M From Primavera squad [48]
31 January 2021 MF Italy Jordan Amore 17 Italy Pescara Undisclosed From Primavera squad [49]

Loans end

[edit]
Date Pos. Player A. Moving to Fee Notes Source
25 January 2022 FW Italy Pietro Pellegri 20 France Monaco Free Anticipated end of loan [50]

Loans out

[edit]
Date Pos. Player A. Moving to Fee Notes Source
5 January 2022 FW Italy Cameroon Frank Tsadjout 22 Italy Ascoli Free After anticipated return from loan [51]
22 January 2022 FW Brazil Luan Capanni 21 Italy Grosseto Free After anticipated return from loan [52]
28 January 2022 DF Italy Gabriele Galardi 19 Italy Gravina Free After anticipated return from loan [53]
29 January 2022 GK Italy Alessandro Plizzari 21 Italy Lecce Free [54]
Total income:Increase €2.0M

Pre-season and friendlies

[edit]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

17 July 2021 Friendly Milan Italy 6–0 Italy Pro Sesto Carnago, Italy
17:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report Stadium: Milanello
Attendance: 0
Referee: Alessandro Di Graci
24 July 2021 Friendly Milan Italy 5–0 Italy Modena Carnago, Italy
17:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report Stadium: Milanello
31 July 2021 Friendly Nice France 1–1 Italy Milan Nice, France
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Allianz Riviera
Referee: Florent Batta
4 August 2021 Friendly Valencia Spain 0–0
(5–3 p)		 Italy Milan Valencia, Spain
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Mestalla
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Mario Melero López
Penalties
8 August 2021 Friendly Real Madrid Spain 0–0 Italy Milan Klagenfurt, Austria
18:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Wörthersee Stadion
Referee: Walter Altmann
14 August 2021 Friendly Milan Italy 2–1 Greece Panathinaikos Trieste, Italy
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Nereo Rocco
Referee: Daniele Chiffi

Competitions

[edit]

Overall record

[edit]
Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
Serie A 23 August 2021 22 May 2022 Matchday 1 Winners 38 26 8 4 69 31 +38 068.42
Coppa Italia 13 January 2022 19 April 2022 Round of 16 Semi-finals 4 2 1 1 7 4 +3 050.00
UEFA Champions League 15 September 2021 7 December 2021 Group stage Group stage 6 1 1 4 6 9 −3 016.67
Total 48 29 10 9 82 44 +38 060.42

Source: Soccerway

Serie A

[edit]
Main article: 2021–22 Serie A

League table

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Milan (C) 38 26 8 4 69 31 +38 86 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Internazionale 38 25 9 4 84 32 +52 84
3 Napoli 38 24 7 7 74 31 +43 79
4 Juventus 38 20 10 8 57 37 +20 70
5 Lazio 38 18 10 10 77 58 +19 64 0Qualification for the Europa League group stage[a]
Source: Serie A
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Draw. (Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played)
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Since the winners of the 2021–22 Coppa Italia, Internazionale, qualified for the Champions League, the Europa League berth awarded to the Coppa Italia winners was passed to the sixth-placed team, and the Europa Conference League berth awarded to the sixth-placed team was passed to the seventh-placed team.

Results summary

[edit]
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
38 26 8 4 69 31  +38 86 12 4 3 28 12  +16 14 4 1 41 19  +22

Source: Serie A

Results by round

[edit]
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
ResultWWWDWWWWWWWDLLWWDLWWWLDWWDDWWWDDWWWWWW
Position84233222222222212322223311211111111111
Source: Serie A
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

[edit]

The league fixtures were announced on 14 July 2021.[55]

23 August 2021 1 Sampdoria 0–1 Milan Genoa
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Luigi Ferraris
Attendance: 4,966
Referee: Marco Guida
29 August 2021 2 Milan 4–1 Cagliari Milan
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 31,946
Referee: Marco Serra
12 September 2021 3 Milan 2–0 Lazio Milan
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 36,207
Referee: Daniele Chiffi
19 September 2021 4 Juventus 1–1 Milan Turin
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Juventus Stadium
Attendance: 18,785
Referee: Daniele Doveri
22 September 2021 5 Milan 2–0 Venezia Milan
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 26,185
Referee: Ivano Pezzuto
25 September 2021 6 Spezia 1–2 Milan La Spezia
15:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Alberto Picco
Attendance: 5,700
Referee: Gianluca Manganiello
3 October 2021 7 Atalanta 2–3 Milan Bergamo
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Gewiss Stadium
Attendance: 9,363
Referee: Marco Di Bello
16 October 2021 8 Milan 3–2 Hellas Verona Milan
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 40,128
Referee: Alessandro Prontera
23 October 2021 9 Bologna 2–4 Milan Bologna
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Renato Dall'Ara
Attendance: 22,167
Referee: Paolo Valeri
26 October 2021 10 Milan 1–0 Torino Milan
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 35,929
Referee: Gianluca Aureliano
31 October 2021 11 Roma 1–2 Milan Rome
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico
Attendance: 51,001
Referee: Fabio Maresca
7 November 2021 12 Milan 1–1 Internazionale Milan
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 56,608
Referee: Daniele Doveri
20 November 2021 13 Fiorentina 4–3 Milan Florence
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Artemio Franchi
Attendance: 32,567
Referee: Marco Guida
28 November 2021 14 Milan 1–3 Sassuolo Milan
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 52,824
Referee: Gianluca Manganiello
1 December 2021 15 Genoa 0–3 Milan Genoa
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Luigi Ferraris
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Juan Luca Sacchi
4 December 2021 16 Milan 2–0 Salernitana Milan
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 43,609
Referee: Antonio Giua
11 December 2021 17 Udinese 1–1 Milan Udine
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Friuli
Attendance: 16,835
Referee: Francesco Fourneau
19 December 2021 18 Milan 0–1 Napoli Milan
20:45 CET (UTC+1) Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 54,647
Referee: Davide Massa
22 December 2021 19 Empoli 2–4 Milan Empoli
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Carlo Castellani
Attendance: 10,596
Referee: Marco Di Bello
6 January 2022 20 Milan 3–1 Roma Milan
18:30 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 35,870
Referee: Daniele Chiffi
9 January 2022 21 Venezia 0–3 Milan Venezia
12:30 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Pierluigi Penzo
Attendance: 5,582
Referee: Massimiliano Irrati
17 January 2022 22 Milan 1–2 Spezia Milan
18:30 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Marco Serra
23 January 2022 23 Milan 0–0 Juventus Milan
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Marco Di Bello
5 February 2022 24 Internazionale 1–2 Milan Milan
18:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 37,918
Referee: Marco Guida
13 February 2022 25 Milan 1–0 Sampdoria Milan
12:30 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 35,710
Referee: Daniele Chiffi
19 February 2022 26 Salernitana 2–2 Milan Salerno
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Arechi
Attendance: 18,449
Referee: Michael Fabbri
25 February 2022 27 Milan 1–1 Udinese Milan
18:45 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 44,588
Referee: Matteo Marchetti
6 March 2022 28 Napoli 0–1 Milan Naples
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
Attendance: 42,000
Referee: Daniele Orsato
12 March 2022 29 Milan 1–0 Empoli Milan
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Report Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 48,801
Referee: Daniele Chiffi
19 March 2022 30 Cagliari 0–1 Milan Cagliari
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Unipol Domus
Attendance: 12,309
Referee: Marco Di Bello
4 April 2022 31 Milan 0–0 Bologna Milan
20:45 CEST (UTC+2) Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 68,136
Referee: Livio Marinelli
10 April 2022 32 Torino 0–0 Milan Turin
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino
Attendance: 23,472
Referee: Daniele Doveri
15 April 2022 33 Milan 2–0 Genoa Milan
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 70,259
Referee: Daniele Chiffi
24 April 2022 34 Lazio 1–2 Milan Rome
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico
Attendance: 26,500
Referee: Marco Guida
1 May 2022 35 Milan 1–0 Fiorentina Milan
15:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 71,542
Referee: Paolo Valeri
8 May 2022 36 Hellas Verona 1–3 Milan Verona
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi
Attendance: 30,154
Referee: Daniele Doveri
15 May 2022 37 Milan 2–0 Atalanta Milan
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: San Siro
Attendance: 73,304
Referee: Daniele Orsato
22 May 2022 38 Sassuolo 0–3 Milan Reggio Emilia
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report