Former AC Milan forward Antonio Cassano has urged the club to replace Massimiliano Allegri with Antonio Conte, as the Rossoneri chase Champions League qualification heading into their final two Serie A fixtures against Genoa and Cagliari, with their league position still at risk in a very tight top-six race.
Milan currently occupy fourth place in Serie A on 67 points, level with fifth-placed Roma. Juventus sit third with 68 points, while Conte's Napoli are second on 70, and Como are close behind in sixth on 65, meaning Milan could still finish anywhere between second and sixth.
Cassano, speaking on his Viva El Futbol show and quoted by Football Italia, argued that Milan's campaign should be viewed negatively despite their top-four position. Cassano believes
Allegri has underperformed and that Conte, currently coaching Napoli, would represent a stronger option for the Rossoneri in the next cycle.
Cassano said: Conte last year performed a miracle at Napoli, but after two years he does not stay at the same club, it is difficult. For me he has to go. Where? To Milan. He would be the first coach to win four Scudetti with four different clubs. If Milan want to do things properly, Conte is perfect. Unlike Allegri, he sells himself through the pitch and does not care about the press. He lets the football do the talking. Conte is one of the few coaches who, if he becomes available, can go wherever he wants. There are only three or four like him.
The former Milan and Italy forward then turned his criticism directly on Allegri and sporting director Igli Tare, questioning both technical direction and recruitment. Cassano did not hold back when describing how, in his view, this leadership team has affected Milan's performance level during the second half of the Serie A season.
He added: Allegri this year has destroyed Milan. The blame, beyond Allegri who has been a disaster, also belongs to Tare, who arrived like the saviour of the nation. And you know what he saved? Nothing.
Milan travel to face 14th-placed Genoa on Sunday in a match that could prove decisive for Champions League qualification. The Rossoneri then complete their league programme against Cagliari, knowing six points would still not guarantee a top-three finish, but would at least secure strong control over their top-four hopes.
Historically, Milan have enjoyed a dominant run against Genoa in Serie A, remaining unbeaten in 15 of their last 16 meetings, with 10 wins and five draws. Genoa's only victory across that spell came in March 2020, underlining how challenging this fixture has been for the Rossoblu in recent seasons.
Genoa come into the clash with serious attacking concerns, having failed to score in each of their last three Serie A games. The previous longer scoreless streak for Genoa arrived between January and February 2022, when Andriy Shevchenko, Abdoulay Konko and Alexander Blessin all coached across four goalless matches.
Milan have also produced a strong sequence at Genoa's ground, winning their last three Serie A away games there. The Rossoneri have never managed four consecutive away victories against Genoa in the competition, so another success would set a new benchmark in this specific head-to-head record.
Allegri's team, however, have struggled badly after the league's halfway point. Milan collected 42 points in the first half of the season but only 25 so far in the second, a negative swing of 17 points. Even with two more wins, they would still end 11 points below their first-half tally.
This drop-off would be among the worst second-half declines in Serie A since the introduction of three points for a win in 1994-95. Only two seasons show a more severe difference: -15 in 2016-17 and -17 in 2002-03, adding further weight to Cassano's wider criticism of Allegri's recent management.
Today's session at Milanello powered by Clivet.
Today's session at Milanello powered by Clivet. pic.twitter.com/fXnqaXd324AC Milan (@acmilan) May 15, 2026
Pre-match data from Opta favours Milan, who are rated as clear favourites to win. Genoa still retain some chance of an upset, while the probability model also gives a meaningful likelihood to a draw, reflecting Milan's recent inconsistency and Genoa's defensive resilience despite attacking struggles.
AC Milan players and Genoa attackers to watch
For Genoa, Lorenzo Colombo is a key figure against his former club. Colombo made his first five Serie A appearances for Milan between July 2020 and January 2021, and has been directly involved in eight league goals this season, scoring seven and assisting one, with two of those goals coming versus Milan.
Those two goals against Milan are bettered only by the four Colombo scored against Hellas Verona in this campaign. Colombo is one contribution away from setting a new personal best for goal involvements in a single Serie A or Serie B season, having also reached eight with Empoli in 2024-25.
Milan's main attacking reference in this fixture is Christopher Nkunku, who has scored six Serie A goals for the Rossoneri this season. That is the same number Nkunku produced across two Premier League seasons combined with Chelsea, where the forward scored three times in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Only Christian Pulisic has a better minutes-per-goal record than Nkunku among Milan players in Serie A this term. Pulisic scores every 194 minutes, while Nkunku finds the net every 202 minutes, showing how much impact the French forward has delivered when available for Allegri's side.
As Milan prepare for Genoa and then Cagliari, the team face pressure on multiple fronts, from securing Champions League football to speculation over Allegri's future and potential interest in Conte, with Cassano's criticism and the team's second-half slump ensuring close scrutiny of performances in these final two matches.
