When Santiago Gimenez and Joao Felix combined for the third goal against Roma in February, many hoped a future together could blossom. However, their paths are destined to separate in the summer.
As Corriere dello Sport (seen below) writes this morning, Gimenez and Felix were the most talked about signings from the winter transfer window, perhaps in all of Serie A. At the moment things are not going well for either, but two different destinies await them.
An unsuccessful gamble
The arrival of Joao Felix had been strongly endorsed by Sergio Conceicao, his compatriot and therefore someone who knows him well. Today, a couple of months later, even the coach seems to have dumped him.
The No.79 began on the bench in the last three league games against Lazio, Lecce and Como. On the pitch, apart from a few rare flashes, he has never given the impression of having fully adapted to the schemes of the coach and the team.
For these reasons, while waiting to understand what the end of the season will bring, at the end of the year it will be goodbye between Milan and Joao Felix after just six months together.
The Rossoneri, who signed the Portuguese on a dry loan, will not bother to negotiate with Chelsea over a possible permanent deal and will focus on other ways to spend the money.
Present struggles, certain future
The one who is destined to remain is Santiago Gimenez. His situation is vastly different in the sense that Milan invested €35m including bonuses to get him from Feyenoord, and he signed a contract until 2029.
The Diavolo must focus on the Mexico international and must build the team around him in a way. This has not been seen so far: after three goals at the start of his time in Milano, Gimenez has gone one month without scoring a goal.
Moreover, as Alessandro Costacurta spoke about on Sky, he seems to be a bit ‘out of the game’. For Conceicao’s style, a striker like Tammy Abraham is valued more, who is used to dropping back a bit to link play together.
El Bebote, on the other hand, is a penalty area predator and for this reason it is appropriate that the tactical solutions change, both in the current season and in the next one (possibly with a new coach), to ensure that he returns to being the version seen in Rotterdam.
I wouldn’t mind taking Joai Felix on another loan for next season. He is not perfect, but there is no other player like hin at Milan or in Serie A for that matter. Felix always plays the ball forward, always try things, unlike most of the players around him who will play backwards so that nothing happens. Felix would be a great alternative to have at Milan’s disposal, and if he grows into Seire. A properly, then it could be even more
Or we could, ya know, not waste more massive amounts of money in a waste of time luxury player?!!!! Instead, how about we go buy a proper #10 like we’ve needed since brahim left, a real CDM, and a LB and LW to replace theo and leao when they inevitably get sold. Why waste money loaning in an expensive diva again who contributes no end product. Brain dead choices like this are why Atalanta have guys like CDK and Samradzic both now and we have nothing
That’s what I was saying. People expect immediate impact while they easily forget these players came in the middle of a chaotic season, from different league with different culture and language. Players tend to have problems settling in coming in summer let alone in the middle of the season.
While Felix was an explicit request from the coach and was nothing out of ordinary anywhere he played, Gimenez is still unproven elsewhere and needs more time.
I said it before and I’ll say it again – it was a mistake bringing a player of Gimenez caliber in the middle of the season. Hope this rough settling in period won’t have too much of a negative impact on his mental condition.
Remember CDK? Paqueta?
some would argue that even the coach was in that position as well
Felix is technically gifted but very selfish player. He seems to play for the cameras instead of his team. It is clear why the big clubs don’t want him. Felix needs a team where he is the only star.
Low blocks are difficult for a predator to score in a congested penalty area. The new coach should play to the team’s strengths (transition counter attack) instead of forcing them into the Porto style of playing. Fill the holes in the squad with quality, get rid of the junk. Santi will get back to scoring . Sarge is not the coach for this job. His lineups always have players in diff roles (Musah Alex Tiji. Forced the chemistry between the fab4 at the wrong time costing us Champions league. Consistently play out of form players (Felix, Theo, even Alex in the last few matches)
Milan management should be patient and focus on the problems of the team. Milan needs to buy four players in the midfield, two attacking and defending so that the team can perform. They have not replaced Tonali, Benaser and Diaz