Milan are facing growing internal frustration just ahead of the 2026-27 Serie A campaign, as key players Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot have decided to delay their return to training. With less than a fortnight remaining before the season begins, the Rossoneri are preparing for their opening match against Torino under new head coach Ruben Amorim, but the squad remains highly unsettled.
Maignan and Rabiot were granted extended breaks following their involvement in the latter stages of the 2026 World Cup. Originally scheduled to return on August 14, the French duo opted to push their arrival back to August 16. This decision gives them exactly one week of training before the season opener, sparking annoyance among some Rossoneri supporters. The situation stands in contrast to rivals Inter, where Lautaro Martinez and John Stones have already returned to training under Cristian Chivu despite also playing late into the World Cup.
The delayed returns add to the challenges facing Amorim. Milan must offload several first-team players before they can secure any new signings, and questions still linger over whether Rafael Leao will remain with the club by the end of the transfer window.
While Rabiot clarified during the World Cup that he plans to meet with Amorim and "go again" with Milan for the 2026-27 season, Maignan's situation appears more volatile. The goalkeeper, who is currently Milan's captain, recently removed all photos and references to the club from his social media accounts. Furthermore, Maignan drew scrutiny last week when he did not attend the funeral of legendary Milan figure Franco Baresi.
