Following his mid season departure from Roma in 1963, apparently due to arguments with the club directors, he took over at A.C. Milan, the team he had beaten in the 1958 European Cup Final. Milan were the reigning European Cup holders and competed in the Intercontinental Cup. They played the Brazilian side Santos featuring Pelé at the height of his prowess in the final 1963 final. Milan won the opening game 4 – 2 in Milan, Pelé scoring both goals for Santos. Before the second leg rumors began to circulate that the Argentinian referee had been bribed, Milan tried to have match official changed but were barred from doing so. Santos won the second game 4 – 2, without Pelé who was injured. With the two leg final a stalemate, a third decisive play-off game took place in Santos just 48 hours after the second leg. The same match official was used for the playoff game. In the third minute, of the playoff, Giovanni Trapattoni was adjudged to have fouled a player in the box and Santos had a penalty, which they duly converted. Cesare Maldini protested and was sent off. Santos won the fixture 1 – 0.