Santiago Gimenez made a red hot start to life as an AC Milan player after his arrival late in the winter transfer window, but since then he has been stuck in a rut.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning, Gimenez set up fellow January signing Joao Felix on debut against Roma in the Coppa Italia, and then scored away against Empoli with a lovely curling shot.
The first chant from the Milan fans was ‘Santi subito (Santi immediately)’ showing his quick impact. The supporters’ pleas for a centre-forward who could score regular goals seemed to be heeded, and they hoped to get used to his point-to-the-sky celebration.
The descent
Fast-forwarding to early April, however, and Gimenez hasn’t scored for almost two months. Not only that, but he hasn’t been a starter in the last three games, starting with Napoli – which was decisive for the remaining Champions League hopes – and the derby.
Two nights ago against Fiorentina, he came on and went off due to an injury. A knock to the side that remains painful and could require further investigation with specific tests: we will understand better as the hours pass.
In Udine, in the early match on Friday, it is still unlikely that he will play, regardless of his physical problems. Here we are at an important point: from first choice and the big winter purchase, Gimenez has become not the second but even the third solution.
Hierarchies flip
At least this is what the last game at San Siro said: with Tammy Abraham as starter, Sergio Conceicao first put Luka Jovic on. Only after 10 minutes of the second half – also due to Abraham sustaining knock and not being at his best – did he send out the Mexican.
In 25 minutes he had a shot off target and one chance where he looked to be through but for De Gea’s intervention, which left him with a bang on the hip. There was another opportunity that could have revitalised him: a shot from Theo Hernandez from a narrow angle, with Santi alone in the middle.
His last goal in Serie A was back on February 15. Since then, another five games from the start without a goal and the slow relegation to the bench. The numerous Mexican journalists following him in the stands of San Siro have the same expression: the striker is disoriented, almost scared.
In addition to his physical recovery, there will be his psychological one to think about. There is no doubt that Gimenez remains the starting striker of the new era. The investment of €28.5m must be repaid, but at present each goal has cost €9.5m. He will have time to repay the expense.
Eredivisie and Serie A are two big competitions with different styles of play. We expect a lot from Santi, nothing is instant, give him more playing time.
I think they will give him time. He has big potential and I think we need different system. 4-2-3-1 is not good for us , second season in row we see it every match
i think the people in Milan need to start seriously looking at this formation, its now becoming something more of an obsolete formation for us…the next coach should bring in fresh ideas and fresh formation
Sell immediately. He is not CDK. We will not regret selling him. Bro isn’t even an athlete let capable of being a top scorer for Milan. Get Lucca who is solid and Italian and good target man.
Abraham must improve much more in last gamed, so Milan decide to buy him.
It’s fine position to have 2 central forwards with maybe Jobic as third option.
The problem is midfield, midfield, midfield. Milan’s system (if you can even call it that) fails to give any striker service in dangerous areas.
Idk santi isnt strong enough to hold off cb nor is he fast enough to outpace them i really dont see what ibra saw in him
from the first game i knows he gonna be bust i cry to not buy him and wait to summer to get a proven striker like Osimhen honest to god if i was in charge of milan transfer i do a far better job than those idio and i do it for free
i be waiting for the call
Anyone call yet? 😉
Santi is fine. Improve the team and morale and Santi will improve.
Santi and Musah definitely seem to play more and more scared each game. Stuck in the hostile environment cycle.
they are tooo dum b to call someone like me who can fix the team and real strategies on transfer market , honestly the few times i comments i end up always right i play football my entire life so i know a thing or two
here a comment i made after his first game when santi won the game for us
( i don’t think Santiago Gimenez is going to be great signing for us , god i hope im wrong )
and this a comment of clueless fan i got lol
What extremely unnecessary comment to make. This guy has done nothing to warrant you thinking he’s going to be bad. He’s been here 2 games and has a goal and assist both in just 30min of football from the 2 games.
This is what a Debbie downer looks like in real life folks