Milan didn't sell, they bought. This was Silvio Berlusconi's idea from the beginning, in the mid-80s, when he himself forced his way into the football system. And he stayed true to this motto, selling only Ricardo Kakà, even when his career was on the decline and the feeling was that the great era was over.
Yonghong Li spent, but did not sell. It is still not clear with what money, but that is another story. Then came “Elliott”, who decided to invest, pay off debts and create a financially healthy club. Thus, every year there were significant sales, or almost. In the last 10 years, a policy of savings was followed at the Rossoneri, even when Covid-19 came and sales were very few: 5.1 million euros in the 2021-2022 season; 11.1 million euros in 2022-2023.
Igli Tare is therefore Milan's first big seller in these 40 years. So far, there are 200 million euros, including bonuses, which clearly makes him the "best trader" of the red and black in this regard. Even without Reijnders, the Albanian sports director would still be above second place in the historical ranking. The departures of Okafor for 21 million and Thiaw for 35 million affect the starting lineup relatively little. Of course, more could be done for Theo, but with a year left on his contract, receiving 25 million is still a reasonable profit.
“Jackpot Tare”
As "Corriere dello Sport" reports, since the moment he signed for Milan on May 26, the former Lazio director has not stopped for a second, reshaping the red and black team and even resolving some difficult transfers.
The new man of the "Devil's" transfer market has made a complete revolution: from the appointment of Massimiliano Allegri to the seven formalized approaches so far, while the final round of the summer transfer market is expected.
It is precisely in the transfer market (sales and loans) that the influence of the Albanian sports director has been most noticeable, as he has managed to sell players for unimaginable sums.
Suffice it to say that Milan sold Malick Thiaw to Newcastle for around 40 million euros (with bonuses included), well above his real transfer value (taking into account the 2-year contract he had left), generating a gigantic "plusvalence" (profit).
In addition to the high-profile sale of Tijjani Reijnders, the Albanian also found solutions for names like Camarda, Bondo, Terracciano, Liberali, Pobega, Colombo and many other players who needed to play elsewhere.
The eventual sale of Emerson Royal to Flamengo for €10m was a great deal. It now looks set to receive over €20m, with bonuses included, from Leeds United for Noah Okafor, another big "surplus".
The amount already secured, including paid loans, is 165.5 million euros, which with bonuses and buyout clauses could reach 200 million euros (even 220 million with the sale of Okafor). Fresh money, which has put the red and black finances in order.
The new sporting director has also had to deal with the complicated issues of Theo Hernandez and Mike Maignan. The former was sold to Simone Inzaghi's Al-Hilal for €25m, thus resolving an internal problem that could no longer be postponed. In short, he has been exceptional in the sales department.
Milan sales figures (in million euros):
2025-26 → 200 million euros
2024-25 → 51.3
2023-24 → 71.4
2022-23 → 11.1
2021-22 → 5.1
2020-21 → 51.7
2019-20 → 59.2
2018-19 → 88.1
2017-18 → 39.7