AC Milan names Massimo Calvelli CEO amid Pulisic transfer approach

AC Milan just handed the keys to Massimo Calvelli, appointing him as CEO on June 26 in a move designed to pull the club out of one of its more forgettable recent chapters. The storied Italian side failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League this past season, a result that tends to accelerate executive-level soul searching at clubs of Milan’s stature.

Calvelli isn’t exactly a stranger to the ownership group. He’s been serving as CEO International at RedBird Development Group and as an Operating Partner at RedBird Capital Partners, the firm that has owned AC Milan since 2022. He’ll continue holding the RedBird role while simultaneously steering the club.

Why the shakeup matters beyond the pitch

Calvelli’s background suggests RedBird is treating this as more than a cosmetic change. Before his time at RedBird, he held senior leadership roles in professional tennis, including serving as CEO of the ATP. That kind of cross-sport executive experience signals the ownership group wants someone who understands both the competitive and commercial sides of global sports, not just Italian football politics.

The Pulisic situation

Calvelli inherits a squad that’s generating transfer headlines before he’s had time to rearrange his office furniture. US international Christian Pulisic, one of the most marketable players in the club’s current roster, has reportedly attracted interest from NYCFC in Major League Soccer.

Milan’s response has been unambiguous: Pulisic is not for sale. His contract runs through summer 2027, with a club option for extension, giving Milan significant leverage in any negotiation they don’t actually want to have.

What this means for the ACM fan token

AC Milan operates a fan engagement token, ACM, on the Chiliz/Socios platform. The token has been live since the early 2020s and offers holders participation in club governance decisions and access to rewards.

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