AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli will have to deal with a depleted midfield over the next six weeks, and may have to call upon the Primavera for help like he has done in other department.
As MilanNews reports, Ismael Bennacer will most likely leave for the Africa Cup of Nations in January while Tommaso Pobega will be out for around four months after undergoing surgery. Rade Krunic seems to be out of favour and could leave, while Yacine Adli has disappeared from the rotations again.
Yunus Musah is currently out injured with a slight muscle issue, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been great since his arrival in the summer but he has had physical issues, including repeated fatigue in his puboadductor area. That leaves Tijjani Reijnders as the sole guarantor for a tough few weeks ahead.
Cagliari await in the Coppa Italia, plus Empoli, Roma, Udinese and Bologna in Serie A in January, then in February there are immediately games against Napoli, Rennes and Atalanta. It goes without saying that all the doubts that permeate the midfield are indeed worrying.
In the event that Fenerbahce do not bring the right offer then Krunic could be eligible for use, just as Loftus-Cheek could get rid of these problems that are affecting him and Adli could provide reassurances in the games he will surely get.
A hand could also come from the transfer window, but it must be understood how an investment in midfield fits in with other priorities, how the elimination from the Champions League has affected the possibility of investing in January as well as the more urgent needs like centre-back.
After Jan-Carlo Simic’s dream debut, Francesco Camarda’s record-breaking appearance and Davide Bartesaghi’s increased use, Pioli might think of also involving Kevin Zeroli, the Italian midfielder who captains the Primavera.
This is certainly an opportunity that Zeroli can exploit: a month and a half with the senior team to show that he belongs, as the other teenagers have.
Honestly from what I’ve seen from Adli he needs a loan. They guy needs playing time but is currently a huge liability at the level Milan aspire to be…
To be sold that what he needs
All this time I thought he was our lord and savoir 🤔 all those Adli fans quieted down recently.. must have been Krunic hate rather than being actually pro-adli smh
Not quiet. Just haven’t seen him much. I want to see him in an advance role. His passing and vision are superb. He’s fine in a deeper role but he needs to learn to check his tackles around the box.
In my opinion he’s more than serviceable and better than Pobega. His biggest problem is he’s trying to do what Pioli wants him to do so he can impress, but being in a new position and Pioli’s lack of..well…tactics and coaching put him in a tough position.
It’s kinda like Kai at Arsenal. He’s made a ton of mistakes to start the season but because of his manager, he’s become the version Arteta envisioned and it’s paying dividends. Pioli doesn’t have that patience/trust or ability to motivate.
U know, I wish he got played like u said in a more advanced role or even as a mezzala but with the other mezzala and the DM knowing he has to cover him. I think it’s been such a missed opportunity. His stats are still freakish for progression and yet he sits on the bench somehow. I can’t really fathom it. At the very least try him in a double pivot with a more defensive player beside him… distributor and destroyer 🤷♂️
Pioli has developed other players well but this one, man it’s a head scratcher
I personally think Milan if they can find players to help them for 6 months then the 40m reported could be used to a position that you don’t have reliable player or have injured players. So Simic Barteseghi , Zeroli chaka traore and victor eletu can help out the team for 6 months
Nelli is numpty….!
Still triggered?
Aren’t we signing something 2 new midfielders in January (presumably followed by another few in the summer and the following January)?
Zeroli and the others don’t stand a chance. They’ll be lucky if they get to play in Serie B. That’s not a dig at the players but at a system that destroys them.
Hopefully the new super league can take all the filthy money out of proper football and football can back to basics (and having a connection with the fans and community).
When Milan do join it’ll be last push towards Como!
This is a positive story. Its great to see Simic, Camarda, Bartesaghi and hopefully Zeroli get their chances.
Enjoy it
Would love to see Zeroli get some minutes with the senior team. Hopefully if we take a sizeable lead against Salernitana the youngsters can come in.
You can’t get excited about 3 new January transfers and this story since the former directory undermines the latter.
Given the growth decree situation giving Zeroli chances maybe prudent too
Zeroli? More like Zero minutes
No way he’s getting sweat with so “many” mids still available