Remember that Spanish manager AC Milan fans were buzzing about, Julien Lopetegui? Well, it seems those dreams are on hold.

Here’s the story: Lopetegui was initially interested in a €3 million contract (with bonuses) to manage Milan. But then, in a bit of a surprise move, the club pulled back. Why? Apparently, the fans weren’t exactly thrilled. They were hoping for a bigger name, a real star manager.

The problem? Milan have a budget, and for managers, it’s set at €3 million, with maybe a little wiggle room to €3.5 million. They’re not planning on breaking the bank. This salary cap is also why they haven’t spoken to other managers. After all, current boss Pioli is on that same salary, and they don’t want to go overboard.

So, what now? Lopetegui seems to be heading to West Ham! Talks are looking good, and they’re offering him a sweet €4 million a year with bonuses, potentially reaching €5 million. That’s a two-year contract with an option for another year, much to the disappointment of Milan fans.

With Lopetegui out of the picture, Milan might be looking at other options. There’s even a whisper that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is pushing for his old teammate, Mark van Bommel, to take the reins.