While hoping to end the season with second place and the Europa League trophy, the AC Milan management are already planning for the future and one of the positions they must make various calls on is right-back.
As Calciomercato.com report, the purchase of a right-back is not among the priorities heading into the summer. Instead, large part of next season’s budget will be invested in the arrival of a new striker, and any other evaluation – including that concerning the full-back – will be postponed.
However, it is known that Geoffrey Moncada and his team have already thought about strengthening the defensive department on the right side, given the concrete interest shown in Ivan Fresneda (who ended up at Sporting CP last August).
With that though comes some decisions that must be made on players currently in the squad, with the different situations for each outlined below.
Davide Calabria
The Milan captain is tied to a contract until June 2025 and, of the players currently in the squad, he is the player who has the greatest chance of staying. As things currently stand, a concrete negotiation over the renewal of the deal has not been undertaken, but the mutual desire is to extend it.
Alessandro Florenzi
Florenzi has a contract expiring on 30 June 2025. Milan have not yet made a final decision on the former Roma man, who joined the Rossoneri in August 2021, also given the significant salary (around €3m net per season, with no Growth Decree) that he receives.
His performances on the pitch in the final part of the season will be decisive, but Florenzi is considered an important resource for the depth of the squad. It will be up to the player to continue to maintain his current form and avoid further injuries.
Pierre Kalulu
Among the many options available for the right side of the defence, Milan can also count on Kalulu. Stefano Pioli changed his primary position to central defender, but the Frenchman has been used several times out on the flank.
His future is in Milan contrary to reports, but watch out for possible interest from European clubs. Having arrived on a free transfer, his sale would give the Rossoneri a substantial capital gain.
Alex Jimenez
He may be currently injured, but Jimenez is also considered on the list of players with a future in the balance. In June, Milan can choose whether to buy the 18-year-old for €5m from Real Madrid who, however, retains a buy-back.
A decision has not yet been made, but if he were to remain in Milan then Jimenez would continue his growth path together with Ignazio Abate’s Primavera or he could be diverted to Serie C if the U23 project takes off.
Filippo Terracciano
In reality, a purchase in that area of the pitch was already made during the last transfer window. Terracciano arrived from Hellas Verona for around €4.5m, but not much has been seen from him recently.
The 20-year-old is considered above all as a wild card. He can play on the right, it is his natural role, but he is not yet first or second choice given his young age. Milan may choose to bet on role players like him, who can fight with Calabria for the starting shirt.
Names for the future
There are various profiles explored by Moncada because the management never want to be caught off guard should something happen to change the plans like a transfer request or serious injury.
Three names stand out: Killian Sildillia of SC Freiburg whose contract expires in 2026, Joe Scally of Borussia Monchengladbach whose contract expires in 2027 and Arnau Martínez of Girona whose contract expires in 2025.
Go with Calabria, Terracciano, and Jimenez for the RB
Slot Kalulu in as a CB.
Why would we even be considering right back rn? We have 4 options there, ffs. Focus in a striker, and a CAM, and Buongiorno for CB if we sell somebody
Yh we should focus on that to start with,but if we want to be a real top club we cant have calabria as a starter so we also need a quality RB
Calabria is totally fine as a starter. Wth are you on about?
Yeah it seems way down the list of priorities.
Getting Kalulu fit should be the signing
DM and Striker they are priorities
Calabria at Rb is our weakness and Florenzi
Is to old and finished
We need a quality right back badly
Yes but if Girourd leaves then it becomes probably the 2nd most important role to fill – assuming the rest stay
Is that why teams mostly attack down our left?
Buy Bellanova back.
DiLorenzo/ Bellanova if Flo go
We can see on Theo how crucial it is to have wing impact and since Florenzi is playing rb we also have some offensive impact there. Calabria is our weakness, and captain of the team. Who ever is in resposibiliy, please leave the club. We wanna back on top and thats not possible with davide
There’s absolutely no reason to buy a rb.
We are fine on RB, sometimes we need players who wants to fight for the shirt like Calabria. Just like Gary Neville, Marchisio
Milan can count on Kalulu? They can only rely on him to get injured.