There were many positive notes for AC Milan during their 4-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb last night but unfortunately Charles De Ketelaere’s name is not on that list.
Franco Ordine’s article for Corriere dello Sport (via PianetaMilan) focuses on De Ketelaere and the fact he played just 52 minutes at the Stadion Maksimir before being replaced by Rade Krunić after being yellow carded earlier in the second half.
The game started well for him with a couple of exquisite touches to start attacking moves, but he then however began a slow descent until the yellow card he got at the start of the second half and the almost instant withdrawal.
“The official explanation is as follows: you have to leave him all the time necessary to memorise the game mechanisms, better understand Italian football and the needs of Milan compared to those of the Belgian tournament and Bruges, complete the transition from another country, another language, another football,” Ordine writes.
“The most pertinent explanation is perhaps that of the experts. And it concerns the psychological aspect, which is a fundamental detail.”
De Ketelaere is perhaps suffering from the €35m price tag attached to his name after the long and tormented negotiation, plus the uncomfortable and demanding comparison with Ricardo Kaká.
Without wanting to fuel the unrealistic Kaka comparison, it took the Brazilian 2-3 months to get a permanent starting spot at Milan, eventually winning the battle with Rui Costa.
Pioli can currently rely on Brahim Díaz who is a match-winner on his day, plus the explosive quality of Rafael Leão and the work rate of Rade Krunić to fill the gaps until the World Cup, which means De Ketelaere does have time to adjust but time ‘will inevitably begin to run out and he will be called to wake up’.
