CM: Caldara meets Milan as an opponent again – the defender hopes to forge a future

By Oliver Fisher -

There will be an interesting sub-plot to tonight’s game between AC Milan and Venezia as the Rossoneri will face a player they own in Mattia Caldara.

As Calciomercato.com writes, more than a year has passed since the last time Caldara walked out at San Siro and even then he did so as Milan’s opponent when he was on loan at Atalanta, back on 24 July 2020. The centre-back only actually appeared once for the Rossoneri at home in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg defeat against Lazio in April 2019.

Injuries have meant he put together only 29 overall appearances between Milan and Atalanta in all competitions between 2018 and 2021 and they chose not to use their option to buy, and now Caldara has chosen Venezia as the place to try and regain some form while out of the limelight.

Venezia boss Paolo Zanetti is guaranteeing him ample confidence as he has appeared in every gave so far this season and this is an important gesture of faith for Caldara, who is regaining a physical condition that he has missed in recent years.

The loan deal is one that has an option to buy in favour of Venezia and Milan meanwhile are helping to pay his €2.2m net per season salary. Of course it is still too soon to say if the option will be exercised but Caldara does have a residual value of €14.4, in the Diavolo’s balance sheet.

The hope is that a new found athletic condition can open several doors for the player, who still has a contract with Milan until 2023.


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Tags AC Milan Milan Venezia
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