The season opener is just over a week away and we have a lot to do here next week to get ready. So while next week will focus on the upcoming season, let’s take one final stroll through the 2024 US Tour and summer mercato news.
Thoughts on the Barcelona Friendly and Milan's Mercato
Milan completed their final stop of the US Tour against Manchester City, Real Madrid, and finally Barcelona. Yes, all of these were mostly meaningless preseason friendlies but they were a boon for Milan US-based marketing and outreach. I love Milan but the height of their popularity was before mass use of the internet and more recently, streaming of many of the European leagues here but also all over the world. Playing teams who have had recent European success has meant more eyes on this promising project our favorite Gerry is building.
A separate but big part of this US marketing effort was bringing in Pulisic last season and boy did he look comfortable in that CAM/#10 role for this game. First he set up Jovic for the opening goal by crossing it across the face of the goalie and leaving it on a platter. It was so on the money that Jovic had a Barcelona player literally draped on him and all he had to do was stick out his foot for the goal (credit to Jovic for the #9-esque goal). Then, further showing what a Pulisic-as-a-CAM looks like, he and Leão played a little give and go and he had a wonderful shot coming in from a narrowing and tight angle to make it 2-0.
Not everything was peachy, however, and Saelemaekers – starting at RB for some reason – had a lazy giveaway that lead to an easy Lewandowski/Barcelona goal to close the deficit and make it 2-1. This in and of itself wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Mental mistakes happen.
After the half, Fonseca made some changes which resulted in not having a true forward and the team was just overwhelmed by the Barcelona press. Like there was a 15-20 minute stretch to start the second half where Milan was just bulldozed and Lewandowski got his second goal of the night. Fonseca brought on Okafor shortly thereafter and things stabilized for the most part.
The score remained 2-2 through regular time and went to penalty kicks. There, the increasingly impressive 19yr old Lorenzo Torriani stopped 2 kicks (one went wide) and Milan completed this US Tour 3-0. Not bad!
All in all this was a very productive trip on and off the pitch. We all knew it wasn’t going to be a busy mercato this summer after bringing in so many players last summer. So this summer was about learning what Fonseca wanted to do with the squad, seeing where he played players, what formation would he use, and how quickly players grasped his instructions. This all led (and still leads) to Milan’s summer transfer business and what they’ve tried to do.
We are all well aware of their need to get a forward and another CB. Both of those boxes have been checked with Morata and Pavlovic arriving. The last major box still to be checked is that damn DM. I’ll focus on Fofana below in the rumors section but here I want to say just a quick word on current in-house options for the DM role.
Loyal readers know I’m not super enthused with RLC. I thought getting him for the 4-3-3 was a mistake (not the best formation for Leão) and him as the CAM in a 4-2-3-1 was like nails on the chalkboard. I said last season that if I had to play him I would play him as a DM in the double pivot. Now, I’m aware he doesn’t play that position and hasn’t played in a way that you’d need for a DM (a physical ball-winner) but he does have the size to do the job. Maybe Fonseca can convince him?
The other option Fonseca is interested in is Musah. I think Musah can be the breakout option here if Fofana doesn’t arrive. He’s got the physically, the motor, and ball-carrying skills to do the job, now he just needs the know-how. This will come with time and game experience. Can Milan wait while he learns? I think that depends on Bennacer regaining a form we haven’t seen in almost 2 years and buys Milan some time. Risky but not a bad option if Milan is keen on not overpaying for a DM on an expiring contract.
Overall, I’d like to see Fofana arrive, Musah to deputize the role, move RLC or Bennacer out the door (Bennacer being more likely) and see how it goes from there. This also doesn’t leave room for Adli and Pobega since Reijnders takes up the other double pivot spot and I’m 100% ok with that outcome.
Comings, Goings, and Rumors
Summer Arrivals
ROYAL All indications are that this is done deal although Milan hasn’t announced it at the time of this writing (reportedly €15M+bonuses).
As I mentioned in the last Musings Summertime post, I’m not a huge fan of this move for the price. Anywhere from €7M-€10M and I’m not complaining but €15M seems a little too steep for me. This is being partially driven by a good buddy of mine who is a massive Tottenham fan and when I asked him about this his reply was, “He’s serviceable”. After a few more minutes he followed up with, “If I were you, I’d rather not spend too much on Emerson Royal…”. So take that for what it’s worth.
I think this was mostly dead until the Florenzi injury. I don’t know if Fonseca would have played Florenzi there much as he was trying him in the double pivot but Florenzi WAS depth for the position and that evaporated when Florenzi blew out his knee. Regardless, I’d love to be proven wrong as I’m all for solid players arriving, although I worry he won’t be any better than Kalulu and I’m going to wish we spent that money elsewhere. Time will tell, however.
MORATA I’m just throwing this in here even though we already counted him has having arrived. Why? Because he finally ARRIVED at Milanello and was presented to the media. So, welcome Álvaro Morata! We need 20 g/a AT LEAST from you so get to work, the season starts in 8 days.
ARRIVALS
- Emerson Royal – Tottenham (reportedly €15M+bonuses)
- Strahinja Pavlovic – Red Bull Salzburg (€18M+€2M bonus, €1.5M wages per season)
- Álvaro Morata – Atletico (€13M, €4M wages per season)
- Alex Jimenez – Madrid (€5M)
- Jan Carlo Simic – Primavera (signed but then sold)
Summer Departures
No one new to add here but expect a lot of movement between now and next Wednesday. I would expect a slew of moves either to the Milan Futuro or outright sales and loans. Of the players who could feasibly be first team players but are likely to leave, I’d put Adli and Nasti at the top of the list to leave. I think Pobega could be squeezed out as well and then of course everyone is wondering what’s going to happen with Saelemaekers. Fonseca seems to really like him, though. Ultimately, what Fonseca wants to do with Jimenez, Liberali, and even Torriani will determine who stays and who goes in these dying days of the mercato.
DEPARTURES
- Lorenzo Colombo – Empoli (loan, details when available)
- Daniel Maldini – Monza (sold, €3M plus 50% future resale)
- Luka Romero – Deportivo Alavés (loan + option to buy at around €6-7M)
- Jan Carlo Simic – Anderlecht (sold, €2M+20% future resale)
- Devis Vasquez – Empoli (loan + option)
- Olivier Giroud – LAFC (free)
- Rade Krunic – Fenerbache (sold, €3.5M)
- CDK – Atalanta (sold, €22M+€3M for initial loan+10% future resale)
Rumor Mill
Some names with a sentence or two on each, ordered by most likely to least likely at the time of writing.
FOFANA If I had to hedge either way, I’d say he arrives. I think it’s becoming more and more likely that it could take until the final days of the summer mercato window for it to happen as Monaco is just not moving on their asking price. If that happens then Milan wouldn’t really benefit from his arrival until the end of September and 4-5 games will have already been played.
There are two very valid interests pulling at each other on this move: (1) on the one hand, the dude WANTS to come to Milan and he’s on the last year of his contract and that normally nudges a team to sell, and (2) on the other hand, teams are becoming more and more willing to ride out a contract and lose a player for free if they determine that his value on the pitch for his remaining season is worth more than taking a cutthroat price, which nudges the team toward keeping the player…what’s going to win out?…
SAMARDZIC I think his asking price is too high for Milan and the only way this happens is if Milan can somehow get Udinese at or below €20M, or if Fofana doesn’t arrive and Bennacer and/or Musah get injured.
CHIESA New rumor this week popped up as it appears Chiesa isn’t favored by new Juventus coach Thiago Motta, with a reported asking price of around €13M-€15M. Not a bad price to take a flyer on but his wages would be problematic especially on a multiyear deal if he doesn’t come good. I personally have never been the biggest fan but he could be a helpful addition on the wings…at about €3M net wages per season. Anything more and I don’t think he’s worth it all things considered.
SCUFFET I haven’t heard any more rumors about getting a backup option in to cover for Sportiello, who’s expected to be out until late October/early November after cutting his hand and what I’m assuming involved a ligament, mostly because the before-mentioned 19yr old Lorenzo Torriani had a fantastic US Tour. Is it a risk to run just with Torriani as Maignan’s backup until Sportiello returns? Absolutely. Can a 19yr old do the job in a pinch? Well, Donnarumma did ok at 16 so why not Torriani? I’d say roll the dice.
ABRAHAM This is likely and has probably been just a likely agent-fueled rumor. Again, for me he’s not needed BUT at the right price (which for me is FAR lower than what Roma want)…I wouldn’t say no.
Wrap Up
That about wraps up this final edition of the Summertime Monday Milan Musings. With Serie A starting a week earlier, our focus here will turn towards the new season starting next week. We’ll have a roster update next week, a Berlusconi Cup/Monza matchday, as well as the season preview before we kick off the new season with our Serie A Whip Around next Friday and then our first matchday next Saturday as Milan open the season against Torino. The new season is just about on the doorstep, people. Get ready for some Calcio.
Forza Milan.
gillis