As the final whistle blew on Milan Futuro's second season, the young Rossoneri walked off the pitch with their heads held high. Despite an extra-time defeat away to ChievoVerona, the project's second campaign proved that the future is bright for AC Milan's next generation.

Competing in the demanding Serie D, Milan Futuro faced a group packed with seasoned opponents who knew the division inside out. But these young talents didn't just survive—they thrived. A fourth-place finish, the best attacking record in Group B, and a string of impressive results against the league's top sides tell the story of a team that punched above its weight. Perhaps their most telling achievement? Taking four points from Folgore Caratese, a side that ultimately earned promotion to Serie C.

Yet numbers on a table only tell half the story. The true legacy of the 2025/26 season is measured in the opportunities handed to the next generation of Rossoneri. From academy graduates who climbed every rung at the PUMA House of Football to players who joined AC Milan later in their development, the pathway to the first team has never been clearer.

"I think the season went fairly well, especially since we achieved our goal of helping every one of us improve," reflected captain Emanuele Sala. "I also think we grew a lot as a group. At the beginning, we needed time to come together: there were those arriving from outside, those who had already gone through the Under-23 pathway and those stepping up from the Primavera, so we didn't know each other particularly well. But little by little, day after day and training session after training session, we managed to become more and more of a team, more and more of a family."

The numbers behind this family are staggering. Across Serie D and Coppa Italia, 42 players pulled on the Rossoneri shirt for at least one minute. Of those, 36 qualified as "Under" players under Lega Nazionale Dilettanti regulations. At the youngest end of the spectrum, players born in 2009—still part of the Under-17 setup—got their first taste of senior football, testing themselves against grown men week in and week out.

"It's a great feeling seeing them with us," Sala added. "It makes you understand one of the Club's values: helping young players develop."

For AC Milan supporters, this isn't just about a reserve team finishing fourth in Serie D. It's about watching the next generation of stars take their first steps toward the San Siro. And if this season is anything to go by, the journey is going to be something special.