Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi has seemingly confirmed that they are interested in signing Ismael Bennacer, but stopped short of giving much more away.
The most likely destination seemed to be Saudi Arabia for Bennacer heading into deadline day, and then it appeared that the Algerian was destined to remain with the Rossoneri, until the news arrived that teams in Europe were keen on signing him on loan.
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Atletico Madrid came forward to express an interest before Diego Simeone poured cold water on things by stating that their mercato is closed, yet Marseille emerged as a late hope for the Algerian.
Speaking at a press conference on the eve of the Ligue 1 match against Toulouse, Marseille coach De Zerbi was asked about Bennacer, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
“You have to sign players only if they bring something extra. Bennacer is not an OM player so I can’t talk about it but we all know his qualities,” he said.
A few hours before the end of the market, the negotiations with Marseille seem to be a race against time. The issue seems to be Bennacer’s €4m net per season, a figure higher than any current OM player (the highest paid is Hojbjerg at €3.4m).
But he does brings something extra Roberto.
He brings extra pounds from the last time you coached against him in serie A
Roberto De Zerbi is a highly talented, respected young coach.
He knows what he is doing.
You just don’t understand the difference between class and form. Bennacer has class
Kalulu has also proven class.
Its players like Musah, RLC, Emerson, Chucky who have never proven to have that class.
I think RLC and Chuky have proven to have that class
and are both more accomplished than Bennacer.
RLC scored 10 goals last season. Chuky had a ton of goals and assists the season before he joined the team.
I’d like Bennacer to stay don’t get me wrong, but no need for character assassination just because one is disappointed.
No they really haven’t. Chuku is a one trick pony at best and ruben is an average midfielder, there is literally nothing special about them and how they play.
I think Chuky isn’t a good fit with Serie A, I’ll give you that. I don’t think its coincidence that he regularly scores or assists in European games for us but fails to impress against Piacenza and co.
Totally Agree!
Chuks , since he has joined Milan has shown only sporadic moments of good football. Mostly we have seen him unable to impose himself and disappear in games. He still might turn it around and establish himself, but right now he is looking one-dimensional and lightweight.
RLC has been inconsistent for years now, has never really shown his true potential and he will probably be like this throughout his career.He lacks true grit and determination to impose himself as the Authority in the middle of the pitch.
Bennacer has lost a yard of pace since his ACL injury and has had a difficult start/stop for two seasons now ,however at his best he was rather unique ,technical and tactically intelligent who was part of the best midfield in Serie A before inter started to dominate.
For me ,he deserves the chance to prove himself in this team and I’m sure that many fans would like to see him this season regain his best form.
To me, class describes character, not footballing skills. Kaka was classy. He was also skilled Maldini was classy.
On the other hand, for example Neymar, with all his skill, was never a class act.
Class is the player’s character, skill, ability on the pitch.
Class is the player’s overall ability, his standard. That is to say, the player’s rating.
Trying so hard to differentiate Class from skill doesn’t make any sense.
Kaka, Maldini and Neymar were all skilled and classy players.
The difference you can make of “Class” is “Form”.
That’s why they say, “form is temporal, class is permanent”
Form is the ability or inability of such players to regularly meet up with the standards they have set.
And I do think that’s where Neymar falls short. He’s form wasn’t consistently on the high either due to injuries or controversies.
Fair point
I think Maignan is classy
literally no top club wants De Zerbi the guy who defends a r*pist
you got no morals just like him
Bennacer has class?
Too bad for him that in football and sports being in form and in shape is more important than the class he supposedly has according to you.
Poor de Zerbi doesn’t know that a hefty chunk of sempre Milan commentators don’t know benacers qualities.
Watching (and stopping to watch) the first 10 mins of Inter – Atalanta. Inter can easily put 4 on us on 1st gear if they play like that.
When you didn’t see him play at good level?
Shape doesn’t matter when the job is done. He just came back from long injury, how can you expect him to loose too quickly it’s dangerous
I hope you will not experience his situation because you are going to realise quickly that you become just blabla keyboard speaker than reality.
Just came back from long injury?
Are you talking about his knee injury?
He came back from that one on December 2nd 2023 vs Frosinone. Today is August 30th 2024.
Just came back is 9 months ago.
Benacer last season played 1335 minutes and scored 2G and 2A.
Reijnders played 3871 minutes and scored 4G and 4A.
Who’s the one in poor form and who’s the fit one playing week in week out?
And which of the two we need to sell?
Reijnders is easily the best midfielder we have. But him and Benny play different positions. Hard to compare stats.
Coming back from ACL is tough, takes up to a year to regain form if you’re lucky. Nothing against Benny he has been good for us when he was fit. But if we’re continuously upgrading, we likely don’t have time to wait for Benny to regain peak form.
They’re both mezzalas. Different game styles same midfield lane. Except benacer is the more complete midfielder of the two
If you watch them play you don’t have to ask that question.
Hakan had 2g and 3 assists in 3250 minutes last season for inter, if we take away his 13 penalties. He had only 1 more assist than Bennacer in 2000 more minutes. Based on your logic Inter should immediately sell the 2nd best holding midfielder in Europe and sign Bennacer to replace him.
Milan is trying to sell Bennacer. No one wants him.
I’m actually around 76% sure that benny would do much better than snake hakan in that team. He is a more natural fit. The only thing snake hakan is better than benny at is set pieces
You lot sure know more about one players quality than De Zerbi.
Everybody knows his qualities but the Milan management and fans.
Welcome back to training Bennie!