AC Milan are not just working on signings in the final month of the mercato but also exits too. However, they have run into a problem: nobody wants to leave.
As Corriere dello Sport (via MilanNews) recall this morning, during the press conference to present Paulo Fonseca, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was quite clear that Milan’s intention is to have a squad of 23, maximum 25 players available to the Portuguese coach.
That is why the directors are also dedicating a fair bit of time to outgoings to trim down a squad that currently has many more players than those who should eventually form the definitive group once the season starts.
The issue is that the players also have to co-operate. Divock Origi and Fode Ballo-Touré for example have rejected most of the proposals presented to them because they were not convinced by the destinations and/or projects.
While the Belgian striker has closed himself off from the possibility of going to play in Turkey, the Senegalese full-back has done the same, even turning down Besiktas because he is convinced he can find a place in the Premier League.
Getting rid of these two surplus players is one of Milan’s objectives because both weigh on the balance sheet at €10m gross combined, a significant sum that could be reinvested in some new additions.
Adding on to the piece from CorSport, it is worth mentioning the recent reports stating that Yacine Adli has turned down Saudi clubs because he wants to stay and Luka Jovic wishes to fight for a place.
Then there are players like Tommaso Pobega who could generate a nice capital gain but is important for the squad lists and perhaps doesn’t have a big market, while Alexis Saelemaekers was an obvious sale candidate until Fonseca decided he wants to keep him.
Can’t we just terminate their contracts?
Sure it will cost Milan but isn’t it better to just rip the bandage and move on?
I think that’s most likely, but if you’re going to pay the contract anyway may as well keep them in the squad. Fairer for the players though.
I think for the second season we’ve been very churlish in not including the players in our first team pre season to be honest, they might be on the market but this was always a possibility and there’s going to be less interest if they’re already cast out. I would say they’d get minutes, but for the squad registration rules which make it near impossible.
I don’t remember the numbers but doesn’t origin earn a lot from his salary?
I don’t know how contract termination works, maybe someone else can explain why Milan can’t just cut them loose.
Contract ‘termination’ involves Milan paying what’s left on his contract, so the full contract for this coming season.
More common is ‘mutual termination’ – for example, Milan pay 75% of the money he is owed and then he can immediately sign for another club and make more than the 25% difference.
We created this mess, and, now, Fonseca wants to add Abraham to it. In a year’s time, we will be looking at getting a better striker to replace him.
It wouldn’t be a transfer window without Milan being stuck trying to offload players from previous transfer windows whilst trying to add to the pile by signing multiple players for one position.
And it certainly wouldn’t be a transfer window without a striker given we’ve signed at least one striker every season for over 15 seasons.
Lmao you again. You shouldn’t be talking. It’s your man Maldini that brought in Origi and Ballo Toure. And now we are stuck with them. Genius.
And really? A striker every season. Start naming them. And I will point put the flaws in your argument.
I saw someone put a list of striker signed every year by the club maybe like a year ago. And there must be a reason why Oroghi wanted to go to Italy instead of still playing in EPL or renewed by Liverpool, he was a free transfer and has limited club interested to him back then, eventually he must choose club abroad to get his Wage again right
Yes Maldini is the first director of football to have ever wasted money on pointless signings.
I know you love to slag off individuals (especially club legends) but I don’t tend to focus on individuals because it’s the system that is failing, and it’s people like you who support the failing system and keep defending for some bizarre reason.
I cannot be bothered pulling out the names. Go on Wikipedia and keep going back seasons and you’ll see we’ve signed at least one striker every single season.
Whilst Real Madrid had Benzema for 14 seasons we kept resetting our strikers.
Why they live? Question is why we buy them,same with be with Abraham or Samardzic if buy them,so what we buy now must pay price for stupid transfers.
Yeah they must be watching Oroghi from highlights especially UCL winning season. But couple season ago,he made screamer goals from long range and quite fast, so maybe he is AMF/SS, in coach knows how to deal with him, cmiiw
Just make them train and warm the bench Serie C for the durations of their contracts…they are unlikely to get a game there….
Grazie Maldini for this two pathetic clowns…
Almost 50 euro millions in total loses with wages, taxes, commissions, transfers fee etcetera…
We sold Tonali last summer for a very good sum and all the profit from his sale was lost with these two completely missed transfers of Origi and Ballo-Bibi-Bubu-Baba
For nothing you bring me a good player if you bring me two disastrous players. With business like this I will always pedal in vain…
Myopic reasoning…. U use Origi n FBT to judge Maldini? Hilarious… Is it not d same Maldini who brought in MM, theo, Tomori, thiaw, Leao, salaemakers etc ..
Ppl hate for poor reasons.
Can’t get all transfers right, same for Maldini as it is for the current crop