Theo Hernandez has not had an ideal start to the season when factoring in his performance against Parma and the cooling break saga during the Lazio game, but his renewal remains an issue the management must tackle.
As Corriere della Sera (via MilanNews) write, Theo must be given some slack for being one of the last to return after a very long season that ended with him starting all the games at the European Championships up until France’s defeat in the semi-finals.
Yet, despite not being in the best of form, the Frenchman has not appeared the same from other points of view and (a bit like the whole team) has played below his expectations. In three games he has started from the bench twice, and in the game he started he didn’t put the required shift in.
The break should be welcome in terms of getting him back to 100%, but naturally he has already jetted off to be with Didier Deschamps’ France squad as they have two UEFA Nations League games to come. He could, therefore, return tired again.
The management hope the cooling break saga will not complicate the negotiations for the renewal that will simply have to resume soon between the club and his entourage after being left on standby during the summer mercato.
Nonetheless, it is an extension that promises to be complicated, since the initial request of Theo and those who represent him is €8m net per season, above what Rafael Leao – the highest earner in the squad – currently gets. Milan will have to work patiently and effectively to keep him.