AC Milan were seemingly caught off-guard when Serbian youngster Matija Popovic turned up in Milan on Tuesday to try and get his transfer finalised.
According to Corriere della Sera (via Milan News), the 18-year-old’s flight to Milan from Belgrade was organised by him and his entourage rather than the club, and it was a surprise for those at Casa Milan.
Milan were still reflecting on the financial aspect of the deal that would see him sign as a free transfer after his deal with Partizan Belgrade expired at the end of 2023.
One of the main reservations for Milan is that by signing Popovic, they will use up their final non-EU slot for the season and will be restricted with who else they can sign during the January transfer window.
As it emerged earlier today, the trip to Milan so far seems like a wasted one because the commissions that his agents are asking for have stalled the deal. Milan feels they are asking for too much money.
The deal is not completely off at this stage but there is going to be more negotiations between the agents and the club, as Milan will not pay what is currently being requested.
I would predict this was 1-2M, which is too much for Milan. Meanwhile City is signing 30M 17 year old players. So, we all know where he will end up…
If the guy came to Milan, these idiots management should show good faith and finalize the deal. Garbage owners
Anything is an opportunity to bash management. He’s a non-EU player. Management needs to be very selective who they sign that’s non-EU. Period.
This guy is not proven.
Easier to spend someone else’s money, isn’t it? No parameters whatsoever.
This is getting very irritating that simple transfer can’t be concluded. If it is not signed off on, don’t hold your breath with this new management. No one will take us seriously if this pattern continues. And I am not suggesting that we need this player, but some teams close deals in 2 phone calls, we take months and still lose out on deals on the 11th hour. What rubbish.
Easy for you to say. This is a non-EU player who showed up out of the blue with an entourage. Milan wasn’t interested in him. And appears still not to be. Who can blame management? Using a non-EU slot on a player that hasn’t even played a single game for a senior team and has been frozen out of his squad for six months lol….
Also this new management is known for getting things done timely. We already signed one player rather quickly. So what’s the problem?
Have you even taken time to reach my post or in your haste to answer you missed the gist of what I am trying to say.
He oughta know in the first place that if it is money that he’s after, Man City might probably give him more. Much more.
You cant be showing up at Milan and demanded the Man City offer to be matched. (I think what probably happened anyway).
Shame shame shameful act
Just that Milan are too stingy.case like thuram
No. This guy is non-EU. And Milan are hesitant on using a non-EU slot on a completely unproven player. Milan might want to sign another American player afterall.
You sound like a stuck record. This is not about non EU or not. It’s about our recruitment strategy that appears to be all over the place. No clear direction ito of what they want and what they need to go for. They wasted months pursuing this kid only to discover now that there is only one non EU slot left. Surely this should have been a consideration at the time. It was with Taremi and all other possible targets during the summer mercato. And this nonsense keeps repeating itself. Management need to be clear on what they want and get on with it.
There are two options here.
1. Agree to a highway robbery, which this is. Pay those agents what they want, not matter how ridiculous the amount is, thus sending a signal to every lowlife, subhuman calling themselves a player agent out there that you are a sheep that is ready and willing to be sheared.
2. Or you stand firm. Pay them what you believe is fair for a 17 year old unproven, potential talent that hasn’t played a game for 6 months. And yes maybe strike out and lose hum to a club with more money than brains, but at least show you have a functioning brain and a backbone.
Surely they can send someone to break the agents legs.
How much money was it? Which amount? I think only a “subhuman” can accuse someone without knowing the details, humans wait until they have all the relevant information…
He’s also a non-EU player and there are often paperwork issues involved with that and we lose a valuable non-EU slot on a highly unproven player.
Who is to say he won’t be another Lazetic who hasn’t scored a single goal on two separate loans.
Why should we go for this player? Nah, Milan won’t be held hostage by unscrupulous agents.
Yup
seems like Taremi’s case repeated again
Exactly. Taremi 2.0
I smell Inter around the corner lol 😅
People are attacking Milan for not wanting to sign a non-EU player who just suddenly turned up and hasn’t played in half a year? Really guys?
It isn’t the money, but rather management being hesitant on using a non-EU option for a very unproven player. Then if we sign him, watch people here complain anyways about us not being able to sign a non-EU player that is more proven.
Nah, I don’t think Milan should accept this. They didn’t know this guy was going to show up out of the blue.
Either way, even if they agree to agents’ commission requests, then at the next renewal window it will be the same story but for more money.
Milan won’t do that on principle alone. As they did with Taremi. Rightly so. Tying up a NON EU slot, no less. There will always be another transfer target.
And what if we’re after a player like Jonathan David again? David is non-EU. Would we really want to use a non-EU on someone as unproven as Popovic?
He hasn’t even played for a senior team. He’s only played for youth teams. And if their commission requests were outrageous, really no basis for it. At least with Taremi he had senior experience… there are so many red flags with this kid I’d say hard pass.
I don’t believe in signing players with baggage. That could mean baggage like Balotelli’s emotional issues, Icardi’s needy wife, or having a demanding entourage. Time to forget about this Popovich guy.
I 100% agree with you.
I read on X that Milan management are very unhappy with the attitude of his agents.
This is no surprise given he was already frozen out by Partizan.
Then he and his entourage turn up without notice to Milan and are demanding hefty sums for his signature.
You mention baggage, this guy has trunk of sh1t with him.
Probably not the kids fault, he is obviously surrounded by greedy fools, who will only serve to ruin a promising career before it starts.
And the fact that he’ll use up a non-EU slot too. Ya, there are so many red flags with this guy I say forget about it.
For everyone bashing management my question is, why didn’t he just show up in Manchester? Why’d he pick Milan? This guy seems like trouble to me and I’m glad offer what he’s worth not more. Otherwise he can go sign for some second tier PL club who’d gladly gamble on him and his agents
Wait, the guy shows up unannounced, unscheduled or a day early? Which is it?
Their data didn’t reveal he was a non -EU player at all? So they enquired, negotiated and offered a contract only to discover he was a non – EU player afterwards? A transfermarket search could easily had informed them he was non – EU, what’s the fake response for?
All of a sudden his agent is a bad guy? I thought some weeks ago man city had hijacked the deal? So it means Milan called to restart negotiations?
Did he make it clear to his former club he was not signing a contract extension? If he signed one, could he trust the club to sell him to another club based on a verbal agreement?
Does arriving in Milan instead of Manchester a day early not show his willingness to play for us? How’s he wrong? Was chalhanoglu not signed while frozen out at his German club too?
The press are churning stories with little or no backup for their stories.
If he signs good, if he doesn’t better. We remain Milan!