Milan is emptying out, but San Siro is filling up. This is the intriguing story of the Rossoneri’s summer, which started with dissatisfaction but has now reached the start of a new season filled with renewed enthusiasm. Between tonight and Saturday, around 120,000 fans are set to welcome their beloved team back at the iconic Meazza stadium. This includes the classic Trofeo Berlusconi against Monza, marking the end of pre-season, as well as their first official match of the season against Torino in Serie A.
Looking back, Milan’s supporters have always shown up passionately at San Siro. Last season’s attendance figures highlight this: the Rossoneri ranked just behind their city rivals Inter, averaging 71,880 supporters compared to Inter’s 72,630. However, towards the end of the last season, tensions arose between the Curva (the fan group) and coach Stefano Pioli’s team. This was due to disappointing results and a lackluster spirit in various matches. The protests ceased only in the second half of the final game against Salernitana, allowing fans to pay tribute to the coach following the nineteenth Scudetto win and to veterans Olivier Giroud and Simon Kjaer.
At the start of this pre-season, things didn’t look great. On July 8, the ultra fans chose not to attend their usual welcoming event at Milanello, resulting in a mere 300 fans showing up — a significant drop compared to previous years. Yet as training progressed, especially during the tour in America, enthusiasm began to grow among the supporters. Pre-season matches against big teams like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Barcelona ended without defeats and showcased encouraging performances.
The revitalization of optimism has been amplified by recent signings in the transfer market, with players like Álvaro Morata, Pavlovic, and Emerson Royal joining the squad. These acquisitions reflect a commitment to strengthening the team, with discussions ongoing about bringing in a midfielder to bolster a solid foundation, as Ibra recently highlighted.
Tonight, before the Trofeo Berlusconi against Monza, the club is set to hold a spectacular showcase for the new signings. Then, it will be time to hit the pitch and demonstrate what they’ve shown overseas, against familiar rival Alessandro Nesta and an expected crowd of around 50,000 fans. On Saturday, the real competition kicks off against Torino, with over 70,000 fans anticipated at San Siro. These numbers are particularly impressive for this mid-August week.
