Marino: Milan regret buying Bonucci
Pierpaolo Marino feels AC Milan would have benefited more from investing the Leonardo Bonucci money in attack.
Former Napoli and Udinese director Pierpaolo Marino believes AC Milan already regret signing Leonardo Bonucci, claiming the big-spending Serie A giants wish they had brought in a "top striker" instead.
Milan pulled off a coup in the off-season, prising Italy international defender Bonucci away from champions Juventus in a €42million deal.
The 30-year-old has not fully settled into his surroundings as Vincenzo Montella's new-look Milan struggle for consistency, having already lost two of their opening six Serie A games this season.
And Marino feels Milan – who signed forwards Andre Silva and Nikola Kalinic for 2017-18 – would have benefited more from investing the Bonucci money in attack.
"I think Milan already regret buying Bonucci," Marino told Rai Sport.
"Montella didn't want to switch to a three-man defence, but he found himself forced to change his plans by the arrival of Bonucci, but even that is not enough.
"I think that if Massimiliano Mirabelli and Marco Fassone could go back in time, they'd spend that money to buy Bonucci on a top striker instead."
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Milan face a big test Sunday, welcoming high-flying Roma to San Siro as pressure mounts on Montella following their loss to Sampdoria last time out.
‘Charlton could have qualified for Europe, but selling Scott Parker to Chelsea made the difference. The manager didn’t want him to go and there was a disagreement’: Former Addicks star highlights key reason why they failed to maintain 2003/04 form
‘Amorim’s starting point is completely different to Arne Slot’s. How long will it take? F**king hell, god knows. He must be very convinced about himself’: Ex-Manchester United coach highlights how much time is needed to turn things around