Allegri asks AC Milan to retain previously loaned player

Massimiliano Allegri, AC Milan’s new coach, has made a surprising decision — requesting the club to retain several previously marginalized players.

Milan welcomes back several players who were loaned out last season to various Serie A clubs:

• Devis Vasquez and Lorenzo Colombo from Empoli
• Yacine Adli from Fiorentina
• Ismael Bennacer from Marseille
• Tommaso Pobega from Bologna
• Alexis Saelemaekers from AS Roma
• Kevin Zeroli from Monza
• Noah Okafor from Napoli

Allegri, who returns for his second stint after previously managing the club from 2010-2014, brings strategic changes — opening opportunities for formerly outcasted players to return to the main squad.