Massimiliano Allegri has AC Milan flying. However, potentially they could be better with a certain left-back still in the team.
There is something that will remain unanswered at Milan, even if many do not want it to be. Ultimately, the Rossoneri could have been much different with Tijjani Reijnders and Theo Hernandez in the team.
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Of course, both funded the replacements that arrived with their departures. However, there can certainly be a feeling of ‘What if’ present with them. If they had stayed, who knows what would have been different? A situation especially worth considering with Massimiliano Allegri’s wishes.
Theo’s position
With Theo, the chances were more realistic, considering his contract expired next summer, and his situation was awfully similar to Mike Maignan’s. Bridges were burnt, though, and instead, you are left wondering what could have been.
Peppe Di Stefano, a journalist for Sky, ponders over the same question, as MilanNews relays, and is left puzzled.
“I’ll still be a mystery as to what Theo Hernandez could have done in a team like that and with a coach like Allegri.
“I’m convinced he would have motivated and recovered him, too. The coach didn’t press any tactical switches; he worked on the mental side. Gabbia-Pavlovic-Tomori is not too different from the Scudetto defence, but Allegri has the antidotes to overcome ailments, and the players are following him assiduously.”
Saelemaekers? I thought it was crazy to sell him for two years. He’s had a great season this season, last year he had a great season at Roma, the same thing two years ago at Bologna, his first experience at Milan brought trophies…
“I know that Allegri, as soon as he saw the first training sessions, said, ‘You can’t touch him.” The Scudetto? The coach has always said, even with Juventus, to wait until March.
“For me, Milan is a serious thing this year. I agree with those who said that Milan doesn’t have the squad to completely dominate the league, but they have the characteristics to do as well as Pioli,” he told Radio Rossonera.
As much as i liked Theo as a player, he was a cancer in the dressing room. Milan did the right thing to sell him. Tiji is good but if you want to see what if scenarios, just see how he is doi g under Guardiola. Again Milan was right to cash out.
I agree about Theo. This Di Stefano’s opinion is completely hypothetical. Theo could just as hypothetically have been the same old Theo, not making the extra effort in defense and this would have driven Allegri absolutely insane and caused unnecessary drama in the dressing room. Time will tell, but if I were betting man I’d put my money on Leao being sold this summer after Aellgri experiences him for a full season and given his contract is up in 2028.
I disagree. Milan should have allowed Allegri to make the call on whether or not to sell Theo. Because it is not easy to replace a player of his caliber and talent and he’s only 27yrs old.
It would have made more sense to sell Maignan who is injury prone because it’s easy to replace a goalkeeper than it is to replace a player like Theo.
Estupinan is nowhere near the level of Theo and in my opinion he is not a good signing.
Deschamps and Pioli didn’t have a problem with Theo that tells me that under the right coach he will get in line and he would done well under Allegri.
I completely agree!
Finding a player like Theo is so so rare.
An attacking force of nature.
And he had been good enough defensively for years with French team (world cup final) and Milan.
People are blinded by the disaster of last season.
Allegri would have done well with him and we rae not even mentioning the fact he would have played as a WING BACK a system he was made for!!!
I would also add Jimenez should have been kept to cover both wings – Alex, Alexi and Theo would be an awesome wingback roster.
Completely agree 💯 hardly you found someone like him these days, if not Mendes. He would have thrive under Allegri
Were the rest of the teams all around Europe blinded by Theo disaster of last season?
There is a reason he is playing in the desert instead of in a top European club.
Modric, who has won everything in football, at 40 can come early for training and stay late, but Jimenez, who hasn’t done anything cant even come on time.
Milan is a better team today because they got rid of Theo and Jimenez from their locker room. Funny, both players were also discarded by Real Madrid prior to coming to Milan.
” Funny, both players were also discarded by Real Madrid prior to coming to Milan.”
Are you trying to revise history?
Are you going to expect us to forget that Theo was not only a star of the Milan team (highest scoring defender ever) but also of the mighty French team and widely regarded as the best/one of the best full backs in the world??
I’m very surprised any Milan fan would denigrate the achievements of one of our best players in a generation. One who was so so spectacular and enjoyable to watch
Everyone keeps focusing on Theo’s offensive capabilities, but no one is stating the obvious – Allegri’s core game plan is defensive w/ counterattacking breaks. Milan is 70% defense, 30% counterattack.
Theo was a defensive liability. Time and time again, late to mark his man or not marking properly often. Max is getting the best out of our subpar CB’s and maybe he could have gotten more out of Theo defensively, but that would have posed a tall task.
A vast majority of top sides in Europe signed Left Backs in the summer transfer, if Theo had an attitude that matched his talent, he would easily have slotted right into any of them.
For a player with talent who wanted to remain in Europe, ending up in Saudi leaves little to be admired my friend.
In sports, especially professionally, the attitude, the man comes before the player any day.
Balotelli could have been a balon D’or contender, but his antics were overshadowed his talent, that’s what just happened to Theo.
His antics overshadowed his talent
In fairness he achieved a lot more than Mario.
He played at Milan for years and caused no problems, in fact he loved Milan. He signed a contract renewal with no fuss or delay when we were working on Leao’s for months/years.
He has never been considered a problem by Deschamp who is notoriously strict and still retains his place in the national team, probably the strongest in the world
We’ve seen enough of Theo to know that he wouldn’t have changed, he would be overly focused on attacking, not tracked back and never stick tight to his man. Statistically Theo was Milan’s worse defensive fb and that includes Emerson
My sense is that Milan had a choice to make, keeping Rafa or Theo. There was too much risk to run it again, as the two together were so disruptive. That is on them, and not on Fonseca or Conceicao.
As Allegri’s need for 15 goals from midfield, that might have been easier with Reijnders. That said, he may have scored as many goals last season as he is ever going to get in a season. It was difficult to see him go, but it was his choice to leave. It is hard not to love what we are getting out of the midfield right now.
Looking ahead to what will hopefully be a Champions League campaign next season, a back-to-the goal striker combined with a productive Gimenez would go great with Pulisic, Leao, Nkunku and Camarda.
The reason Theo Hernandez went to Saudi Arabia is that he wanted to be paid a LOT more money than the rest of the footballing world thought he was worth.
Everybody knew he was a defensive liability, many teams with great defenders and centerbacks could have easily delt with that problem.
However, nobody wanted to pay the money that Theo wanted.
A google search said that Theo now makes well over €20 million a year (and possibly even higher), which is an insane amount of money, considering that is more than the top earners in all of the English Premiere League, and topped only by David Alaba’s €22.5 million a year salary at Real Madrid.
Theo’s transfer value had also plummeted from a high of about €60 million three years ago to his final sale to Al Hilal for €35 million.
Theo’s talent is undeniable. He could have gone to other teams if he were willing to 4-5 times LESS money, and if Milan were willing to accept a lower transfer fee.
But, his bad attitude was also undeniable.
All, in all, this was the best deal possible for Theo Hernandez and Milan.
He is now no longer disrupting Milan’s team spirit with his bad attitude and on field antics (like taking the PK away from Pulisic and then missing), and he gets to make a ton of money while living in the alcohol free desert.
Addendum: Lewandoski makes €33.33 million at Barca, which is also an insane amount of money. No way is he coming to Milan
There’s a reason Theo wasn’t in high demand in Europe. Real wasn’t dying to bring him back. .. Atletico, and more.
So Peppe Di Stefano, if you are a puzzled journalist, ask around.
This journalist forget allegri are defensive mind player not offensive. Pervis & bertesaghi dont have offensive ability like theo but their work rate are high and liked by allegri also both are not lazy to track back opponent. Theo will good in 352 if the coach also offensive minded like gasperini or sarri