#TBT: PIRLO‑HUNTELAAR, POSITIVE NEWS FROM MILANELLO

THREE KEY DATES IN THE ROSSONERI'S SUMMER
On 12 July 2009, AC Milan President Silvio Berlusconi, having just taken part in the G8 summit in Abruzzo (more specifically L'Aquila, a place that had recently been devastated by an earthquake) in his capacity of Italy's Prime Minister, turned his attentions to the Rossoneri once more. The Club's fans were in shock following Kaká's departure to Real Madrid, but Berlusconi decided to go all-in on Ronaldinho, making the Brazilian stand on the table in Milanello's Sala del Camino (the Fireplace Room) and promise that a great season was in store.

Newly appointed Coach Leonardo and the fans were pleased with this, but it wasn't the end of a turbulent summer: two weeks later in Foxborough, Massachusetts, just before AC Milan v Inter were set to face off in the ICC, Andrea Pirlo greeted the Inter players in the centre circle and revealed that he would soon be following Carlo Ancelotti to Chelsea. At that point, a change of direction was needed, and it arrived on 5 August 2009.

GREEN LIGHTS FOR BOTH PIRLO AND HUNTELAAR
In the early afternoon of 5 August 2009, Silvio Berlusconi's presidential helicopter landed at Milanello. Berlusconi had arrived ahead of a working lunch with Adriano Galliani and Leonardo. By the end of the meeting, two key decisions had been reached regarding the club's future. To quash any rumours of a move to Chelsea, Andrea Pirlo's contract was adjusted and the midfield maestro remained a Rossoneri player – just as both Leonardo and assistant coach Mauro Tassotti had hoped.

Furthermore, approval was given for a new arrival. The player in question was Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, a striker who'd exploded onto the scene at Ajax but was on his way out at Real Madrid that summer. The Dutch forward was brought in to support an attacking line which already boasting the likes of Pato, Ronaldinho, Borriello and Inzaghi.

The official PUMA match kits for the 2019/20 season are available in the AC Milan Online Store!