Real Madrid could well put a spanner in any hopes AC Milan might have of keeping Brahim Diaz beyond the end of his loan deal, a report claims.
According to a report from El Español (via Managing Madrid), Real Madrid are thinking about the possibility of bringing Brahim back to base at the end of the current season given he is in the second of a two-year loan at Milan while expires next June.
Brahim is no longer a guaranteed starter anymore since the arrival of Charles De Ketelaere from Club Brugge in the summer plus the return of Yacine Adli from his loan spell at Bordeaux, and that could facilitate him going back to the Spanish capital.
They need a playmaker too given that Asensio is on an expiring deal, though Antonio Vitiello of MilanNews recently reported on his YouTube channel that Milan are monitoring Asensio’s situation and believe he could be a good free transfer, so the situation could yet become intertwined.
I’m a huge fan of Brahim’s, but let’s face the facts.
1. De Ketelaere is here to stay.
2. Adli deserves a chance.
3. and most importantly, Brahim is far more effective when playing against a striker who moves a lot outside the box (Rebic for example), while Pioli insists on having a big marksman like Giroud.
So it’s best for both parties to part ways in the summer.
This in a way is like Diogo Dalot’s situation (although Dalot is muvh more suitable for Pioli’s system). The combination of price demanded by Real, and the suitability of Brahim to the system, just makes a permanent stay a damaging decision for both the club and the player.
behind* a striker
Interesting observation.. could you please elaborate why he’s more effective with Rebic but not Giroud?
Because Pioli depends on high pressure and counter-pressure, which means even as a forward you’d have a defensive task.
This is problematic for Diaz because he tries to do 4 things at the same time.
1. Run vertically to be the link between the midfield and the striker.
2. Run horizontally to link up with both wingers.
3. Apply pressure on the opponents from a very advance point on the field.
4. Score and create scoring chance.
The last player I’ve seen doing all 4 with high efficiency was probably Pavel Nedved in 2003/2004. It’s just impossible.
The difference between Rebic and Giroud, is that Rebic covers a lot of space and does his defensive job in the final third. Hence sharing the burden with Brahim.
But Pioli doesn’t want that. He wants a player who is physically big and is good in aerial challenges.. like Giroud.. Ibrahimovic.. even when we looked for a younger striker we went for Lazetic who is the same profile.
The ideal striker for Milan would be someone who is physical but also moves a lot. Like Osimhen, or Abraham. Even Vlahovic would do.
But since these strikers are expensive.. and Pioli doesn’t want to change the system. Then it seems right to give priority to the system and part ways with Brahim.
BTW.. go back to Brahim’s best performances since he joined. You’ll find Rebic in most of those games.
Also, the player is aware of that. He gained a lot of muscle mass in the summer, which shows you that he’s trying to improve his physical condition to match his style of play.
I would celebrate so hard if this happened.
I’ve been a Milan fan since 1998 and have watched most games. Brahim is the player that was the hardest to watch during this time. It would be a massive relief if he left.
If you really have watched that many Milan games, you would find a far greater number of former Milan players that were harder to watch than Brahimi. Not a huge fan of his but he is nowhere near the worst or most frustrating since 1998.
I really have watched, and he really is, at least for me. Or couse this is subjective.
My favorite player of all time is Rui Costa, but Diaz is his opposite in so many ways.
I’m sure you can find someone who played for Milan and is objectively a worse player, but I judge Brahim based on his role, which used to be the starting no. 10. My frustrations are proportional with the importance of the role, a similar case to Suso in his last season.
Absolutely, my comment was more an attempt at humour at the expense of some of the poor players Milan have had over the years. I have been a fan since 1992 so like you, have seen some of the best players in the world wear red and black. The chasm in talent and frustration between the best and the worst over that period of time is immense. For me, Brahim wouldn’t even come close to the most frustrating though I can see why he would for others. Clear talent, great dribbler with poor vision and worse decision making. If only he looked up to pass more often instead of trying to dribble and making the pass well after his teammates conpleted their runs!
Bonucci mate.. oh dear, he was the hardest for me, especially with the armband, I mean after Maldini, monto is bad enough, but Bonucci is unbearable, he played like shit, he had this juve tag all over him, and he’s the captain. It’s a disgrace! I start obsessing about milan on 94/95 I can’t remember, what I did remember is, it was Marco last season with us, so yeah Im used to awesome captain lol.
Jokes aside, I loved brahim, but i sometimes saw him as one pony trick type of player, he play passionately i respect that, but unfortunately, i didnt think he can be better thn CDK or adli for us..
Yeah, agree about him not looking up. Rui Costa for exemple was the opposite, never looked down. Such elegance…
Im not brahim fan but disagree if he is the worst. Do you even watch AC Milan mediocre squad play like mesbah,konstant,matri,destro,cerci,vergara,poli,bertolacci,niang,de sciglio and the worst capitano bonushit. If AC Milan fan survive watching them play just consider it they have huge love & loyalty to AC Milan
Stay away from Asensio, there will not be big leap from Salemakers / Messias. We need higher quality winger such as Moussa Diaby, Dembélé, or Maduke
Been noticing it several times since last season and Brahim is more suitable to enter the game as a substitute. As he’s someone who has the ability to break the dead lock, and his agility is useful when facing tired opponents.
But of course, it’s not enough for someone who has our number 10.