After a summer with seven arrivals and an eighth to follow soon, the AC Milan management must now make some sales to thin out the squad.
According to a report from Calciomercato.com, Alexis Saelemaekers is now faced with a predicament regarding his future. He has never hidden his love for Milan, but he risks finding very little playing time next season.
The Belgian international is expected to be behind Samuel Chukwueze and Christian Pulisic in the right wing hierarchies, plus potentially even Luka Romero who continues to impress in preseason.
Offers are expected for the former Anderlecht man in the coming weeks and the Rossoneri will evaluate them, given their need to raise funds for some final pieces.
Saelemaekers has been taken on the tour of the USA by Stefano Pioli and he has appeared in both friendlies out there so far against Real Madrid and Juventus, playing as a right-back rather than a right winger.
Alexis is example of player who represent very good job of Ac Milan in terms of player evolution and upgrade. He plays very good defence now, and can suited in many positions. Ok, he is not kind of winger who can score 10 goals per season but still have others qualities as a winger.
Probably Milan will sell him for around 10 or 15 million, that would be capital gain.
But I would prefer to keep him, and try as rotation player for Rb Lb and Rw Lw.
In future Milan could get 20 million for him and his salary is not so strong.
I think he still has a room, a big room to grow.
I think offers of around the 10M mark will come in for him im sure, and with the players we have available for the RW it’s up to him to decide if he wants to get more minutes at another team. I won’t be opposed to it as I always wish the best for saele as he’s always worked hard for us while we’ll also get some decent funds to reinforce the team in positions where reinforcements are more needed
Saelemaekers is just not “Milan material”.
We’d never win a Scudetto with him. I mean another Scudetto. The one I’m imagining we’ll win not the one we actually won.
And there’s no way a team with him in it could qualify for the champions league three years in a row – again.
Or make it to the semi-finals of the champions league – again.
I mean there’s just so many other players in Europe who played in the semi-finals of champions league last season. Well there’s only 44. And none of them of the players we signed to replace him. But think of their imaginary potential!
Look this is not the sort of player who you could rely on to single handily take on the Napoli defence and score. He just doesn’t have it in him – again.
Besides he’s only rated like 80 or something in FIFA.
(Sarcasm alert)
Saele is lost in a 4-3-3, in that system you need a proper winger, in 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2 it is easier for him to get away with more of a right midfielder role.
Formations are overrated (and seemingly another excuse for agents to make a mint off the back of yet more endless transfers).
The greatest sides of all time played multiple formations and the same players across multiple positions.
Nicky Butt (yes that supercalifragilisticexpialidocious inhuman player) covered across the entire midfield four of Man Utd’s treble winning side.
Ambrosini did as well in Ancelotti’s great Milan side covering for Gattuso, Pirlo and Seedorf.
Damian Duff (I know I keep naming these godlike humans) covered for Joe Cole and Robben in Mourinho’s record beating Chelsea.
And of course he’s no Padoin or Giaccherini or Borriello or Matri or any of the other Juve players (including ex-Milan players) who won titles with Juve.
(More sarcasm alert)
Spot on on both accounts. Salads improvement over the past 2 years is underrated. His foot work, runs and shooting have all improved drastically.
But he’s not flashy…besides his haircut, which means he isn’t “Milan material”.
Good coaches adapt the style of play to their players. Salad will be fine whatever formation we play, not because of Pioli, but because he’s become a pretty good player.
I hope we keep him around. Saelemaekers has the proper mentality for a team like Milan and I think he is valuable as an option for both wing positions and also right back if needed. A real squad player who has taken massive steps in his growth the past year and can still grow even more!
People will knock Saelamaekers but he’s always been completely committed in every game. Personally, I hope he only goes out on loan so we can see how he does as a starter somewhere – if a coach can get end product from him or teach him to slow down his thinking then there’s an excellent player in there.
If he goes on loan he’s finished.
Loans virtually never work out for the players mainly because they’re disruptive.
Put it this way – did you employer every loan you out?
Mine did (on secondment) and I never went back!
I would love we keep him cos he can always play as RB so imo he still have quality and depth needed so keeping him will
Best for me tho. Because he gives his all when called upon so that alone makes me want to keep him
@Maldini heir don’t know anything about Milan’s players at all. If not for injury Saelamaekers is even better as an attacking midfield…. check his flash play during his return toward end of last season. Very skilful (no player was skilful on one-one aside Leao in the team than Saelamaekers), he is more creative and very good in shooting. I believe in him in the attacking midfield,right,left. The guy is improving every season .
I think u missed the sarcasm alert
He is a better Rb than florenzi for sure. He can play in both wing. He can fit for the whole season. He has low salary. What else do you want?
Could try and re-make him as a right back. Florenzi with his injury history is too much of a risk and its not gonna get better as he ages. Kalulu will be needed as third choice for central defense with Kjaer to slow. And we still only got 4 cbs Kalulu included. I rather see Saelesmaekers as a back-up rb this season. He doesnt have a high salary, still young, not often injured, loves the club and will work hard when given the chance.
Abate was moved to right back after starting further forward. He was never the second coming of Maldini but with his speed and work rate was quite good on some poor Milan teams. Saelemaekers can do the same with proper coaching. He is more talented technically, just as hard-working, and not as fast, but then almost nobody is. Like Krunic, not going to be anyone’s first pick but an important piece to have.
Yes I think we should keep salamakers,as he has a great mental attitude and he gives his all ,he can play in various positions,,so a very useful addition to keep .
He wants to stay …He has great desire to succeed..