The cold hard facts make quite grim reading for AC Milan fans at the end of this turbulent season. The new Chinese owners invested around €250million in the summer but the Rossoneri finished in the same position as last year with just 1 more point.
So where did it all go wrong? The summer investment was bold and ambitious with many believing that Milan's new financial power would finally see them return as contenders to Juventus' throne. They even struck a huge blow to the Bianconeri by poaching Leonardo Bonucci off them for €42million but the defender surprisingly struggled at times. The arrival of Lazio captain Lucas Biglia also looked a big statement at the time but he, like many of the other signings, was another who failed to live up to expectations.
The Rossoneri started the season pretty well with four wins from their opening five Serie A matches but their performances were slightly disjointed at times, even in victory. Then came a barren run of just two wins in nine league games and no wins at home for two months. It was a sequence that saw the end of Vincenzo Montella's reign at the club.
Club legend Gennaro Gattuso was promoted from the youth side to replace Montella and, after a tricky start, he managed to stabilise the Rossoneri going into the new year. They went unbeaten in nine league matches with seven wins whilst also progressing in the Europa League and Coppa Italia.
The cup competitions suddenly started to represent a real chance of silverware but Milan were dumped out of Europe by Arsenal and suffered a rather embarrassing 4-0 defeat in the Coppa Italia final to Juventus where a couple of Gianluigi Donnarumma howlers cost them. The young goalkeeper, who promised so much last season, was dogged by off-field issues involving a potential transfer away and was even brought to tears after being booed by his own fans. His performances certainly suffered too. After getting themselves back into contention for Champions League in March, the Rossoneri fell off the wagon again in April and were nowhere near the top four in the end.
There were some positives. Young striker Patrick Cutrone emerged as a real talent and finished top scorer. Frank Kessie was one of the summer signings who did live up to the hype and Hakan Calhanoglu also showed flashes of brilliance at times. Alessio Romagnoli managed to outshine Bonucci in defence and he looks like he could be a stalwart for the club going forward.
Given his affinity with the supporters, Gattuso will be given time but will he be given the funds? Milan are currently facing expulsion from the Europa League after allegedly breaching Financial Fair Play rules and they might even be given a transfer ban. Whatever the outcome, it seems unlikely that there'll be the same kind of investment as last summer.
