Milan have arrived in Perth and put in their first training session on Australian soil, as MilanNews report.
The trip matters because this is where Massimiliano Allegri's pre-season really starts to take shape, and the summer's new signings need minutes together before Serie A begins. Two friendlies in Western Australia give him a first proper look at the group, and the fixtures themselves carry weight: one is against Perth Glory, the other is a Derby della Madonnina against Inter. Both will be staged at Optus Stadium, though the details of the Perth Glory game are still to be confirmed, with no official announcement yet.
Getting there was not straightforward. Airport issues in Dubai forced a five-hour layover, which pushed the landing back to last night and stretched an already long journey. The squad was on the training pitch within a day of touching down.
Rafael Leao and Gonçalo Ramos are set to join the camp tomorrow, with Leao's situation worth watching as Fenerbahce are in Italy for talks over the winger. Alexis Saelemaekers, Koni De Winter, Luka Modric and Ardon Jashari are due on August 2nd. Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot will link up directly in Italy on August 12th, ahead of the final friendly against Manchester United in Poland on August 15. Christian Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez stay behind at Milanello to recover from their injuries.
The staggered arrivals tell the story of a squad still being built, with Leao's name in a Fenerbahce meeting the one to keep an eye on while the rest of the group sweats through the Perth sessions.