It has been a difficult campaign for Ismael Bennacer and he will close it at the weekend against Salernitana, but it cannot be totally ruled out that his AC Milan career might end then too.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, Bennacer was out until November, came back, went to the African Cup of Nations and got knocked out in the group stage, then managed twi goals in 19 Serie A games with one still to play.
Milan start the summer knowing they have three big names to defend from foreign offers: Rafael Leao, Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez, in ascending order of probable departure. Bennacer is the fourth because, even if it isn’t talked about much, there is a question of the mercato lurking.
Sirens from Arabia
Bennacer is interested in the Saudi Arabian league, which is growing rapidly, and there is a very good chance that he will end up playing there. Ismael is ‘very close to Arab culture’ as per the paper and for him it seems only a matter of time before he ends up there.
His plans include a transfer in a second phase of his career, ideally in a couple of seasons, or in 2027, when his contract with Milan expires. However, surprises are not excluded because times, in football, are never a guarantee.
The Arab clubs have great financial resources and an offer for Bennacer could arrive in the summer. In that case, watch out for unexpected developments because the former Empoli man is interested in exploring the idea.
Room for growth
Bennacer, of course, can still grow a lot at Milan and he knows it. Two nights ago, after the match against Torino, he spoke as the future leader of the dressing room.
“Me, leader since July? Of course, next year I’ll do everything I can. I’m not someone who talks a lot off the pitch, I’ll always be there on the pitch and I will always give everything,” he said.
“We are second in the league, but for Milan it is not enough to finish second. We have the desire to win. Every year I try to give something more. I have been here at Milan for six years. I have to learn this role as a leader and to be an example.”
In short, until further notice the player and the club will move forward together. However, nothing in football is a certainty, as the sale of Sandro Tonali showed.
He deserves better than the Saudi League, but hopefully, this will be good for his career and these c*nts will pay him.
(for those who didn’t follow, there are multiple instances of SPL teams not paying their players)
I think this is the realistic future of the Saudi League. Top European talent will stay in Europe, but Saudi is now a serious option for top African and Asian talent.
As for Bennacer – for me, the only argument to keep him is, we are running out of players who’ve been around the club for longer than a couple of years and that’s a worry. But he’s not good enough to be one of those players who you’d rather hang on to even if it means losing them for nothing, so if the money is good…
This is some baseless high lvl fan fiction not a sporting article
That applies to upwards of 95% of content on this website to be fair 🙂
Well duh. The Internet really destroyed proper journalism..
Well duh? Well what was the f****g point in your original comment then? The internet really destroyed common decency. Pr**k.
Triggered much? Go touch grass kiddo
Oh no you called me kiddo, I’m melting….
Just try being civil and not a internet c***
You’re the one insulting me for no fûcking reason, then you have the audacity to tell me to be civil?
Just fûck off
I was in (fairly obvious) agreement with you about the quality of articles on the site.
Then you insulted me.
F****g off. Have a good day.
Sure i did. If ‘well duh’ is an insult then you really need to go touch grass.
Touch grass
Triggered
Kiddo
Dude it’s like you’re playing “Comment Section Platitude Bingo”.
I think it is an insult, yeah. Sorry for calling you a p***k, that was an unnecessary outburst. The rest, I stand by.
Thanks and good luck with your new club Benna.
Man, 5 years feels like fast. From banter era to 19th scudetto + return to CL era and now we’re going to lost a lot of important players and possibly back to banter era again.
Oh well. Good stuff never last forever…