Mehdi Benatia faces competition from four other candidates for AC Milan job

Moroccan football executive Medhi Benatia is reportedly among five candidates being considered by AC Milan as the Italian club searches for a new sporting director.

Benatia, a former sporting director at Olympique Marseille, is interested in the opportunity but faces competition from several experienced executives as Milan looks to restructure its sporting department.

According to Spanish journalist Matteo Moretto, the club is assessing multiple candidates, with no clear favourite emerging.

Benatia left Marseille in May following a turbulent season and has since worked as an expert for Canal+, although he remains interested in returning to a senior football role.

Four rivals in the race

One of Benatia’s competitors is Tiago Pinto, currently Head of Football at Bournemouth. The Portuguese executive previously worked at Roma and has experience in both Serie A and the Premier League, alongside an extensive network in the international transfer market.

Markus Krösche, sporting director of Eintracht Frankfurt, is also being considered. He reportedly featured among Milan’s priorities last summer, but his contract with the German club runs until 2028, raising questions about his availability.

According to Tuttosport, Milan owner Gerry Cardinale is also considering Devin Ozek and Jose Boto for the position.

Benatia’s experience in Italian football

Benatia previously played for Udinese, AS Roma and Juventus, giving him extensive experience in Italian football.

He also played a role in bringing Adrien Rabiot to Marseille before the midfielder moved to Milan in the summer of 2025.

Milan prepare for sporting department changes

Milan have been restructuring their sporting department since Igli Tare left at the end of May. The club’s failure to qualify for the Champions League last season added to the pressure for changes.

The club must now consider whether to appoint an executive with an established record at a European club or give Benatia the opportunity to build on his recent leadership experience in France.

The five candidates offer different backgrounds, from Pinto’s experience in Italy and England to Krösche’s work in Germany and Benatia’s playing career and executive experience in France.