AC Milan have once again been linked with a move for Sassuolo winger Domenico Berardi, but his profile is not one that seems to convince the management.
Tuttosport (via MilanNews) reported this morning how Stefano Pioli wants a player for the right wing and Berardi is a profile the management are targeting. They added how they should be able to use two things in their favour: Champions League football which would please the player, and the budget to be able to pay the €30-35m asking price.
Encouraging numbers
Berardi’s performances in Serie A with Sassuolo certainly suggest that he would be very useful to the Rossoneri’s cause, given that he has hit double figures in league goals for five seasons in a row, scoring 10 goals in 16 games against Milan over his time with the Neroverdi too.
Alexis Saelemaekers and Junior Messias are not quite at that level in terms of goal threat and end product so Berardi would undoubtedly be an upgrade on paper. He has 12 goals this season, while the Belgian and the Brazilian have 7 combined.
Unconvincing profile
However, we have learned through our colleagues at SempreMilan.it that Milan have never pushed hard for the Italy international and they are unlikely to do so this summer as things stand currently.
One reason for this is the value for money factor, because the 27-year-old is very much in a comfort zone with Sassuolo at the moment and when playing at higher levels (with Italy) he has not particularly shone.
When the pressure rises he tends to suffer, and while it would also be fair to give a chance to a player who is interesting from a technical-tactical point of view like Berardi, the asking price of the Neroverdi – which is likely to be high – are likely to mean Maldini and Massara look at other profiles who can grow in value.
