Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s fate seemed to be away from AC Milan going into the summer, but after three friendlies things have changed.
MilanVibes report that Ruben Amorim is making his final decisions on the squad and it is likely to mean that several players are told that they can pack their bags. However, the fact he has started Loftus-Cheek in all three preseason games suggests he might not be on that list.
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There are a number of doubts about players in the attacking midfielder positions. Rafael Leao remains available for the right price, Christian Pulisic is injured and a loan is being pondered for Alphadjo Cisse, leaving just RLC and Christopher Nkunku ahead of the Torino game.
Ruben to remain?
His contract expiration (2027), his salary, and the management’s strong disappointment with his performance over the past few seasons continue to push many toward wanting a departure.
Yet, as we stand on August 10, it feels like there is a high chance of Loftus-Cheek starting in round one against Torino, barring any dramatic market upheavals or a miraculous recovery for Pulisic. Then, from August 24th, anything will be possible.
The truth is that the former Chelsea man’s starts in that area of the pitch in preseason arise from a lack of alternatives. That being said, he has been one of the most relied upon players, amassing around 180 minutes of playing time across the three friendlies.
Everything will be clearer as soon as Amorim declares the ‘redundancies’ in his plans, but these three games as a regular starter are a sign that shouldn’t be underestimated.
I told you he is going to be a starter. And he is better than Nkunku, so not sure why wouldn’t he. Nkunku is the costliest transfer fail in history of Milan. Unless Ramos takes it over.
What I’m afraid of is that Ramos is good and can score goals because at PSG he gets good passes and is surrounded by world-class players.
He didn’t score that many goals at PSG but did at Benfica…
Yes Nkunku is costly, but let me refresh your memory by top 10 Milan record arrival. So far only Leao, Rui Costa, Inzaghi give something for Milan. Bonucci, Paqueta, Silva, CDK was not good enough, but Milan successfully avoid massive lost from them. Let take some time for Nkunku and Ramos to see which group they’ll be. Caldara? He was another level of failure
1. Gonçalo Ramos €74.00m
2. Rafael Leão €49.50m
3. Leonardo Bonucci €42.00m
4. Rui Costa €41.32m
5. Lucas Paquetá €38.40m
6. André Silva €38.00m
7. Mattia Caldara €37.74m
8. Charles De Ketelaere €37.50m
9. Christopher Nkunku €37.00m
10. Filippo Inzaghi €36.15m
Nkunku – Fee 38M (potentially 42M) and 10M€ on wages every season. For what? He is the most costly fail in the history of Milan. Caldara didn’t have 10M gross a year, not even close to that. Wait for what? Nkunku to be bad for another year? They should have gotten rid of him this summer. What a sh*t player.
Also Caldara was an injury issue and a risk based off of the injury. Nkunku is just bad.
Calm down bro, last season he still managed to score 7 goals and 3 assist in Serie A (despite 5 goals coming from penalty, but 4 awarded from him). Yes I agree he’s under expectation, but at least he still can play. Especially this year is totally different. His natural position is behind striker, which there was no such position under Allegri but available under Amorim. Even if Milan wanted to sell him, who wanted to redeem him in this condition?
They both suck, 3 years in AC Milan he has done nothing.
F. Terracciano, Odogu, Tomori- Chukwueze, Musah, Ricci, Estupinan- ???, RLC- Gimenez. -DREAM TEAM-
F. Terracciano, Odogu, Tomori- Chukwueze, Musah, Ricci, Estupinan- RLC, Leao- Gimenez DREAM TEAM
If RLC is a starter for this Milan we can already give up on UCL next season too. 🤦♂️
He’s a fourth or fifth choice starter who will get game time for the first few rounds because he’s actually spent a few weeks with Amorim. I’d love to see Cissé get a chance but if a year on loan getting more minutes is judged to be better for the lad then so be it.
RLC seems good only in preseason. He then fades, stays on the bench or treatment table. Terrible transfers lately…
Not gonna achieve anything until a solid core of loyal and decent lads is formed. I hope our youngsters get the chance to do that in a few years, with the return of Tonali as a father figure
He might start against Torino, but he probably won’t finish and then he’ll be out for a spell (check the history) – talk about putting all your eggs in one broken basket!
Here we go again……
it’s hilarious how many coaches have had to “default” to using RLC…
You took the words right out of my mouth. We play the same game every summer: will RLC stay or go? Then the coach decided that he should stay, and then sometime in November or December the injury invariably occurs and then he spends the rest of the season not fully fit. I actually rate RLC, but his career has been blighted by injury. Sad, but I’m going to be glad to see him walk next summer when his contract finally runs out, so that we don’t have to play that game again.
all season it’s going to be either RLC or Rabiot in that right forward role. Not a 3-4-2-1 at all
oh good grief. Our preseason-GOAT player has fooled our new coach.
Time to put in the annual bet for dude being injured. I predict as always an injury and one good game every 10 games