Charles De Ketelaere made yet another substitute appearance last night against Sampdoria and failed to do much in the 20 minutes that he got.
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As Calciomercato.com report, De Ketelaere once again appeared timid on the field. Admittedly the game was already won which reduced the need to take risks, but at the same time it felt like a chance to demonstrate his qualities in a match where the pressure of the result had already been taken off.
Stefano Pioli himself admitted at the end of the game that he is unsure what the future might hold for De Ketelaere.
“I don’t know what the future will be, but certain things are forgotten too quickly. I am referring to the difficulties of those who have arrived here over the year,” he said.
“I continue to think that we have quality, the goal is to improve further. De Ketelaere? I don’t know, we will evaluate everything at the end of the season.”
A serious and reasoned evaluation will undoubtedly have to be made at the end of the season, one that has yielded zero goals and one assist so far after a €35m investment made a year ago.
The situation we are facing is not the one envisaged by Maldini and Massara last summer, but they remain firmly convinced that the former Club Brugge man will eventually begin to demonstrate his talent.
Pioli’s statements seem to offer a different scenario though, one that sees De Ketelaere leave in the summer, perhaps on loan. Discussions will be had with his entourage and a precise program for his future will be needed.
Some early enquiries have arrived but a lot will depend on the will of the player and his desire to be a protagonist, at Milan or elsewhere.
