Markus Krösche has addressed his summer links to AC Milan for the first time, and the Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director gave almost nothing away, speaking to Kicker (via MilanPress).
Krösche was, for a stretch of the summer, the name most heavily attached to Milan's rebuild of the sporting structure. The idea was that he would come in above the football operation and set the direction. Instead, Milan turned elsewhere, and the German stayed in Frankfurt. Given how the mercato has gone since, with Igli Tare eventually installed as sporting director and a squad overhaul that has drawn plenty of debate, the road not taken is worth a look back.
Krösche kept the door firmly shut when asked directly.
"I'll just say one thing about the whole thing: I've clearly declared my intention to join Eintracht Frankfurt, so everything else isn't an issue for me right now. I've never commented on certain rumours, and I'll continue to do so. The fact is, I'm under contract with Eintracht Frankfurt, and I feel very good here."
For those unfamiliar with why Milan wanted him, Krösche is one of the more respected recruiters in Germany. He built the Frankfurt side that won the Europa League in 2022 and has a track record of buying and selling at a profit, exactly the kind of model a club watching its balance sheet needs. His contract in Frankfurt runs on, which was always the sticking point.
The move never happened, and Krösche isn't the type to reopen it in public. This one stays closed unless Milan come knocking again down the line.