As speculation swirls around Sergio Conceiçao’s future, the Portuguese coach remains tight-lipped about potential moves, despite reports linking him to Milan in the upcoming summer transfer window.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Conceiçao is believed to be the frontrunner to take over the reins at Milan next season, although the Rossoneri are also considering other options like Paulo Fonseca and Roberto De Zerbi.
Conceiçao recently held talks with new Porto President Andres Villas-Boas, but any decisions regarding his future at the club have been postponed until the end of the season. Porto faces crucial fixtures against Braga and Sporting CP in the Portuguese league and cup respectively.
While Conceiçao extended his contract with Porto until 2028, he retains the option to terminate the agreement, especially with the changing leadership at the club under Villas-Boas.
Sources suggest that Conceiçao is “waiting for a signal” from Milan, with his agent Jorge Mendes reportedly working on a potential deal with the Italian giants. Financially, Conceiçao’s current salary of €3.5 million per season could align well with Milan’s budget.
Should Conceiçao make the move to Milan, he is rumored to favor employing either a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1 formation, with priority targets in central midfield being Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana and PSG’s Manuel Ugarte.
Despite the intensifying rumors, Conceiçao himself has downplayed speculation about his future. In a recent statement, he emphasized his commitment to Porto, citing the challenges the club has faced with financial fair play restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic:
“There is nothing to clarify. I’ve been here for seven years, I’ve already renewed three times – this was the third time. Our club, in these seven years, has had three difficult years of financial fair play, two difficult years of pandemic as well.
“There have been many difficulties but despite everything, we are there, in terms of titles, equal to our great rivals, Sporting and Benfica. I think the work has been done well. The opinion of the three candidates and the current president was that I should have renewed more than a year ago.
“Our president intended to put it in writing, and Dr. Nuno Lobo even had the kindness to say that if he were president, I would be the coach. I am not tied to the position. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Respect it.”
