Santiago Gimenez is ready to make his first start since October, fittingly against Atalanta, as the reverse fixture was the beginning of a very tough period for him.
As Gazzetta dello Sport recalls this morning (see featured image), it was on October 28 of last year that Gimenez clutched his right ankle in pain. 17 minutes into the second half of Atalanta-Milan, he was forced to throw in the towel, and he hasn’t played from start since.
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He spent over a month trying to figure out the injury, undergoing conservative therapy, before opting for surgery in December. However, against Atalanta tomorrow, Massimiliano Allegri appears keen on starting the Mexican again.
Boosting the numbers
Due to the physical problems of Leao and Pulisic, the former Feyenoord player started in eight of the first nine league games. Although he didn’t find the back of the net in those, with him on the pitch, Milan were running at full speed: 18 points in nine games, with 14 goals scored.
These numbers would be very useful for the Rossoneri right now, as they have picked up just seven points in their last seven games, along with four goals scored. Perhaps this is also why Allegri believes Gimenez could provide a boost in this crucial season finale.
In a difficult moment for all of the forwards, the gaffer could decide to rely on Gimenez’s unstoppable desire, which he has expressed repeatedly in recent weeks: “I’m much hungrier and I feel better,” was the statement to MilanTV.
Lack of confidence
Gimenez arrived in Milan at the very end of the 2025 January window, and the expectations were sky-high given the price tag and his record. The start wasn’t so bad either: an assist on his Coppa Italia debut against Roma, three goals in his next four Serie A and Champions League matches.
Then things got complicated. The striker lost his starting spot to Sergio Conceicao and transfer rumours multiplied over the summer as the end of the mercato approached. So much so that, before Lecce-Milan on August 29, Igli Tare even publicly discussed a possible swap deal with Roma’s Artem Dovbyk.
In the end, the Mexican remained but the injury affected his performance: “Playing with a sore ankle didn’t help me, and last season was a negative one. There’s no point in hiding it,” he admitted in the aforementioned MilanTV interview.
And now? Gimenez must earn his stay for another season. A good way would be to help secure qualification for the Champions League, Milan’s key objective of the season.
Struggling duo
Against Atalanta, Santi is expected to play in attack alongside Christian Pulisic, at least according to the tests at Milanello. The two came off the bench against Sassuolo, but at the start of the season, they were a regular pairing for the Rossoneri without Leao.
Ironically, Milan are currently in a goalscoring crisis and could turn to two strikers who haven’t scored in 2026 to break the deadlock. Leao would then be put on the bench alongside Christopher Nkunku and Niclas Füllkrug, ready to be used if needed.
DEVI VENDERE! DEVI VENDERE! DEVI VENDERE!
Oh, he’ll sell. Once the stadium is up and the NBA venture is in place… The problem is, how long will that take and how miserable will we be in the process?