Mario Gila Twist: AC Milan Move First To Jump Ahead Of Inter
Both San Siro giants want the Lazio defender.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 29 December 2025
AC Milan have stepped up their pursuit of Lazio centre-back Mario Gila, who is also on the radar of Inter.
Milan seek to overtake Inter in Mario Gila chase
Reports from Italy have spoken of fresh contact between Milan sporting director Igli Tare and Gila’s entourage.
According to journalist Alessandro Jacobone, new discussions took place between the two parties last week.
The Rossoneri director is keen on strengthening the team’s defensive ranks and closing the gap on Inter.
Gila has become a key figure for Lazio, and Milan have reportedly been exploring whether a January deal is possible.
Tare made his move with the 25-year-old’s entourage, led by agent Alejandro Camano, to find out the feasibility of such a deal, claimed Jacobone.
Inter see Gila as a signing to target for next June, while Milan wouldn’t mind bringing it forward to the winter window.
Contatto tra #Tare e l’entourage di Mario #Gila settimana scorsa, con il DS rossonero intento ad accorciare le distanze e anticipare l’#Inter che, come detto più volte, ha accumulato un leggero vantaggio sul giocatore da diverso tempo. Operazione per giugno per l’#Inter, mentre… https://t.co/G5xgM2QzUj pic.twitter.com/2RGBHkF12z
— Alessandro Jacobone – Milanisti NE (@NonEvoluto) December 28, 2025
The Nerazzurri are on course for a big revamp in 2026, with the likes of Francesco Acerbi and Stefan de Vrij likely to leave.
Meanwhile, the Rossoneri are reeling due to defensive concerns, including an injury to Matteo Gabbia and uncertainty around squad depth.
Milan have landed Niclas Fullkrug to address their attacking issues, and now they are looking towards strengthening their back line.
Gila’s profile appeals to Milan: he is quick across the ground, confident on the ball, and experienced in a high line for Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio.
In addition, Tare knows the player well. He helped bring him to Lazio from Real Madrid in a €6m deal in 2022.
Lazio stance and the obstacles to a January deal
As is often the case in the January transfer window, however, the biggest issue is the timing of the situation.
Lazio are apparently not keen on selling in January, especially to a direct rival towards the top of Serie A.
There are also ‘political’ issues. The likes of SempreMilan have spoken of past friction between Lazio sporting director Angelo Fabiani and Tare.
Gila’s contract runs until the summer June 2027, and his situation has been described as “complicated” amid renewed outside interest.
Any negotiation is further shaped by a clause that gives Real Madrid 50% of a future sale, reducing Lazio’s profit on any fee.
That could push Lazio to demand a higher price, or wait until the summer when more bidders can enter the race.
Milan are keen on acting now to test Lazio’s resolve and try to beat Inter to a highly-rated defender.
However, the likelihood of such a move taking place in January seems slim. Lazio won’t want to lose such a key player mid-season.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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