In the past few days, there has been a lot of speculation about whether Francesco Camarda’s 12-month loan spell could be cut in half.
Since the joy of his first Serie A goal, it feels like a lot of time has passed. Camarda, 17, remains a special striker. As the youngest debutant in the league’s history – at 15 years, 8 months and 15 days – he is now grappling with decisions that usually fall to older professionals.
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Back to base?
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) recall, Milan made the decision to loan him to Lecce in the summer. They deemed it the best path: he would go to a team where he would get more playing time, and learn his trade at the top level.
Until his recent shoulder injury, Camarda had started seven of 18 games, played 634 minutes, and scored one goal against Bologna. Lecce have an option to buy at the end of the season, but Milan reserved a buy-back at a slightly higher amount, as a sort of development fee.
However, the shoulder injury complicates everything: playing with a brace and proceeding with conservative treatment would not be an ideal solution. The option of surgery would lengthen the recovery time, so everything is still to be decided.
A return to Milan would allow the Rossoneri to better monitor his recovery and then reintegrate him into the first team with a view to the future. However, agreement between the clubs is needed: to terminate the loan early and agree on the other details of the formula developed in the summer.
There really isn’t much to discuss from Lecces perspective and understandably so, pay them the 1 mil they would earn at the end of the season, why would Lecce give up guaranteed cash down the wallet. The only thing I can think of is if we for example instead of a mil offered a full swap of another youth player of their interest.
And please do fix this SempreMilan avatar issue where almost all commenters shows up as grey white.
Milan should offer Lecce 500k for half a season of avg development at best. Lecce benefits by having 500k 6 months earlier than they would get the 1M and the convenience of not having to hold up 5M temporarily to execute the buy clause.
+ If Lecce makes things too complicated, Milan may look elsewhere for development loans in the future.
Well according to an article in recent days the buy option is 2.5 mil with a buyback option set at 3.5 so I simply doesn’t see any reason for them to accept half as it is pennies for Milan while Lecce doesn’t have the cash we do.
Maybe but that is a two way streak as Lecce might also demand more from us if we then come calling for a potential talent of theirs down the road.
You make a good point.
I’m going under the assumption that if it’s pennies for Milan, then what’s there even to discuss? He should be back at the club already recovering and hopefully playing toward the end of the season.
Something is holding this up and it’s likely money according to the article. But you’re 100% right if Milan has the money and are just holding out, that’s a waste of everyone’s time.