AC Milan is evaluating former Morocco international Medhi Benatia as a potential candidate for a sporting director role. According to reports from Italy and France, Benatia is among the profiles being assessed by Milan owner Gerry Cardinale as the club continues to restructure its sporting department following the departure of Igli Tare. Benatia, a 39-year-old former Morocco captain, has experience working as a sporting adviser and director of football at Olympique de Marseille.
Benatia's experience at Marseille, where he worked from late 2023 to the end of the 2025-26 season, has put him on Milan's radar. During his tenure, he helped oversee recruitment and the wider sporting project. His departure from Marseille was confirmed in May, and he has since begun working as a football consultant for Canal+. Benatia has also played for several Italian clubs, including Udinese, Roma, and Juventus, making him a familiar face in Italian football.
AC Milan began a major restructuring in May after failing to qualify for the Champions League. The club announced the departures of CEO Giorgio Furlani, sporting director Igli Tare, head coach Massimiliano Allegri, and technical director Geoffrey Moncada, describing the season as an "unequivocal failure." The club is considering several candidates for the sporting director role, and Benatia has not been formally approached or appointed at this stage.
Benatia would welcome an opportunity to return to work in Italy, where he previously played for several years. One familiar face already at Milan is Adrien Rabiot, who joined the Rossoneri from Marseille in September 2025 after previously working with Benatia at the Ligue 1 club. Rabiot is under contract with Milan until June 2028.
According to transfer journalist Matteo Moretto, no candidate has yet emerged as the clear favorite for the sporting director role at Milan. Further meetings and contacts are expected over the coming weeks as the club continues to evaluate its options. Benatia's executive experience at Marseille makes him a strong candidate for the role.
A move to Milan would mark a return to Italian football for Benatia, who spent significant periods of his playing career in Serie A. The club is expected to continue discussions before settling on the structure of its new sporting department. Benatia is one of several candidates being assessed, and the club is taking its time to make a decision.
The news has been reported by several sources, including Foot Mercato, which cited Moretto as the source of the information. Milan owner Gerry Cardinale is looking to reshape the club's sporting structure, and the appointment of a new sporting director is a key part of that process. The club is expected to make a decision on the role in the coming weeks.
Key points
- Medhi Benatia is being considered for a sporting director role at AC Milan.
- Benatia has experience working as a sporting adviser and director of football at Olympique de Marseille.
- The appointment of a new sporting director is part of AC Milan's efforts to restructure its sporting department.
