Cardinale’s Last-Ditch Effort: Di Marzio Reveals Milan’s Generous Offer to Liberali Falls Short

FolioPitch.com – 03 July 2026 | In a dramatic twist to the Mattia Liberali saga, Cardinale messaged the player Di Marzio reveals Milan offered Liberali more to return, but the young talent ultimately chose Como over his boyhood club. The revelation comes from renowned transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, who detailed the frantic attempts by AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale to bring the midfielder back to San Siro.

Liberali, a product of Milan’s youth academy, left the club last summer under controversial circumstances. The Rossoneri have since regretted the decision, and their recent efforts to re-sign him underscore the mistake. Di Marzio, speaking on Sky Sport, explained that Cardinale messaged the player Di Marzio reveals Milan offered Liberali more to return, but the financial aspect was not the deciding factor. “Milan offered more, the financial aspect wasn’t chosen,” Di Marzio said. “Today, Cardinale had messaged the player himself; he offered more money to everyone. The agent and the family decided that the best place for the boy was Como and so they chose.”

The phrase Cardinale messaged the player Di Marzio reveals Milan offered Liberali more to return encapsulates Milan’s desperation to secure the promising midfielder. However, Como’s allure proved stronger: the club is set to play Champions League football next season and offers a clear path to first-team action. Liberali, still only 17, made his senior debut for Milan earlier this year but saw limited minutes. At Como, he is expected to feature regularly, making the move more attractive from a sporting perspective.

As part of the transfer agreement, Milan will receive €3 million from the €6 million total fee, a significant but bittersweet sum. The club’s failure to keep Liberali in their ranks has been a source of frustration for fans, who view him as a future star. The attempt to bring him back, including the direct intervention from Cardinale, shows that the club recognizes the error. Yet, the damage may already be done. Cardinale messaged the player Di Marzio reveals Milan offered Liberali more to return highlights a rare instance of a club owner personally intervening in a transfer, but it was not enough to sway the player’s camp.

Di Marzio’s comments also shed light on Como’s growing reputation as a destination for young talents. The club, backed by ambitious owners, is building a project around youth development and European competition. For Liberali, the choice was about more than money—it was about opportunity. “Como continues to have an attraction for young players,” Di Marzio noted. This transfer saga serves as a cautionary tale for Milan, who must now look to the future with renewed focus on retaining and integrating their academy graduates.

In conclusion, the failed attempt to re-sign Mattia Liberali is a reminder that even the most generous offers cannot always overcome a player’s desire for playing time and a clear career trajectory. Cardinale messaged the player Di Marzio reveals Milan offered Liberali more to return, but in the end, Como’s project won the day. Milan will collect a modest fee and watch Liberali’s development from afar, hoping they do not come to regret the loss even more deeply.