Theo Hernandez is causing worry for the AC Milan management, and it goes beyond his actions at the end of the game against Fiorentina which earned him a two-game ban.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Theo’s long-term future at Milan is in doubt, given that in the start of the 2024-25 he has had more lows than highs, he is not leading his team-mates as a true (vice) captain should do and above all his demands to renew are very high.
Surprising demands
The initial request from the player’s agent was more than €8m net per season plus bonuses, almost double his current salary (€4.5m). Even if there would be the advantages of the Growth Decree, activated in 2019 at the time of his arrival in Milan, it is still a lot of money.
Considering that the highest paid player in the team is Rafael Leao (€7m net, including bonuses), the message delivered by the player’s entourage can only have two interpretations: the first is that he is in no hurry to renew, the second is that he intends to change clubs.
This latter concept was hinted at in his statements just before the European Championship when he said: “Will I stay in Milan? We’ll see later.” This was then quietened after the Lecce game: “I’m very happy here. The fans and the team love me. For me it’s the most important thing.”
Milan have been negotiating with Theo regarding a renewal for months. In August, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had used words full of confidence, stating: “We’re talking. Everything is under control, everything is ok.” Since then the parties have been in contact, a clear sign that there is at least the desire to verify whether there is room for an agreement.
Worrying performances
The case of the cooling break at the Stadio Olimpico was not liked, but it slipped away without fines and without excessive consequences because Theo had an immediate change of heart and accepted responsibility. However, his behaviour in the defeat to Fiorentina on Sunday was much more damaging.
Theo gave away a penalty (and was lucky not to concede another) then he seemingly ignored the hierarchies to take a spot kick instead of Christian Pulisic (which he missed) before getting sent off at full-time, with the armband on and knowing he is the only one in the squad without a real deputy.
This time there will be a fine, but beyond that the Frenchman’s performance levels deserve a separate chapter. He has alternated good performances – such as those against Venezia, Inter and Lecce – with much more disappointing outings. Above all, the away games in Parma and Florence.
The management intend to extend the contracts only of those players who, in addition to having demands in line with the club’s limits (as a reminder, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Franck Kessie were allowed to go), deserve it on the pitch with their performance.
What the future holds
This is why everyone expects Theo to make a leap forward in terms of consistency, as well as give a discount on his current demands. For his part, Hernandez probably doesn’t feel at the centre of the plans with Fonseca as he did with Pioli, to whom he was tied by a notable feeling.
However, in the summer, no important offers arrived for him, also because Theo would only consider the idea of leaving Milan to go to a top European club such as PSG – where his brother Lucas is – or Bayern Munich, who next summer could lose Alphonso Davies to Real Madrid on a free.
Theo has another year on his deal and therefore next summer he will still command a big offer before a sale is considered. Without a renewal, however, Milan will not be able to ask for a huge sum. This is why the dialogue between the parties continues even if the sun is not shining.
Surely the biggest issue at Milan is Ibra who very publicly undermined Fonseca?
Maybe Ibra can have a go managing. It probably couldn’t get worse.
“Maybe Ibra can have a go managing. It probably couldn’t get worse.”
He is acting as a manager already – even if he’s title says consultant.
For such a management and “owner”(“winning is boring”) without any aspirations for winning who can blame him for wanting to leave.He knows his value,at least to win the money if the management shows no intention in real development of this team.100% behind anyone against this fraud Jerry and his numnuts
Atm theo and his cronies look like they’re the ones stalling our development and sabotaging us 2 win games..
You’re 100% an idi0t if you support players who are actively (intentionally or not) sabotaging our development.
What development? It’s all about the brand and Théo appears on the Puma commercials so good job. Stop pretending this team has any ambition on the football side and scratching your head about why this team is dysfunctional.
I’m not pretending. We have ambition. The club is miss manged but that doesn’t mean that people miss managing don’t want to win. They’re just going about it wrong.
Because Zlatan said that they’re thinking about the third star? Actions speak louder than words. You don’t hire Paulo Fonseca when your goal is to win.
One player is sabotaging the entire team and the club? Great team and club in that case. If one player is so important that the team can’t win without a left back. Left back. Once again, left back.
Ha ha.
LMAO!!! These Redbird Lovers are hilarious
Theo is “stalling our development and sabotaging us”???? Wow.
Go back to bed
Should have delt with his renewal during last season, but instead we kept waiting, pretending everything is ok and now there are clearly tensions between the player and the team.
Now, supposedly he wants to leave this summer, we will have to let him go for a small price, since no team is going to pay a lot of money for a player who will available the next summer anyways.
Ibra, Moncada and Furlani should co-author a book on how not to manage a team.
He’s also irreplaceable.
He’s pretty much 33.33% of our attack (the other 66.66% are made up of Leao and Pulisic).
When he goes we will not be able to find a player as impactful.
And with #LeaoOut also trending we’ll basically be finished as a competitive force.
If a player wants to leave (not saying that Theo wants to leave), there is nothing a club can do to prevent him from doing so, just look at Mbappé in PSG.
At least, if we renewed to him last season, or made it clear by summer if he wants to stay or wants to leave, we could have gained a good amount of money instead of letting him go for free.
I don’t think we can find a left-back as impactful as him, but we can think of a system, tactics that doesn’t rely on a stong left-back.
“And with #LeaoOut also trending we’ll basically be finished as a competitive force.”
We stopped being a competitive force since Kessié left.
But it’d be nice if the club didn’t keep creating the conditions where a player wants to leave.
Not to sound like a broken record but we won the Scudetto just 3 seasons ago and all we needed to do was replace the Kessie the Mercenary and Kjaer, Giroud and Ibra the Retirees.
We have engaged in a mindboggling number of transfers in the interim period that started with Maldini and Massaro wasting millions taking a punt on unproven players rather than adding proven winners.
So of course Theo wants to leave. We’ve basically dismantled a Scudetto winning side in record time and are heading to mid table obscurity at record speed.
(My current prediction for this season is we’ll finish 7th)