In recent months, there has been a lot of support for Davide Bartesaghi. However, there is still a wish for Theo Hernandez at AC Milan.
As good as Bartesaghi has been this season, most would still prefer to see Theo on the left hand side. Last season was a poor year, but he represents a lot of what Milan fans miss currently and that is proven quality.
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With Massimiliano Allegri playing a back five, there have often been thoughts about what could’ve been with Theo in the squad. After all, the Frenchman would have limited defensive responsibilities and a lot of freedom to attack.
However, that is all they are for now, thoughts.
Milan left thinking about what ifs
Against Juventus, perhaps the game would’ve been different had Theo still been with the Rossoneri. Bartesaghi had a poor game and he clearly struggled, with reports suggesting that he was dealing with a muscle problem.
However, one chance in particular has been pinpointed by fans. Rafael Leao played a searching ball into the box, but the Italian could not get onto it and the chance was squandered. The feeling, as MilanNews writes, is ‘what if’ Theo was there to receive the ball.
An attacking full-back with a fantastic relationship with Leao, perhaps that would have been the Rossoneri’s first goal against Juventus in a few years.
— @Rayyxn7_ (@milansempre2026) April 26, 2026
The recent rumours about a potential return to San Siro may have given the wishes for Theo being there more life. However, it was only a few months ago where Bartesaghi was seen as a €50+ million replacement.
Things in football can change quickly, but it appears that the wishes for Theo’s return will not be changing.
Hernandez was only good when Maldini managed the player.
Brain dead stayement, brain dead journalism. Only the glue sniffing 12yr olds who play fifa want Theo back. Anyone whobwatched all the games last year remembers he single handedly cost us multiple goals and losses last year by simply REFUSING TO RUN. The number of times he just outright refused to track back or put in effort had me losing my mind. Bartesaghi is literally in his FIRST FULL SEASON. For the love of gods, give him some time to develop. What is wrong with you plastic ahh armchair supporters?! Bart has the heart to fifgt for the badge. Theo demanded more money directly after one of the laziest season performances ever seen in the shirt. GET. A. GRIP.
It’s Ben cooking… just get used to him already.
Theo is a club legend who was a major reason for Milan’s turnaround and Scudetto win.
Last season the management alienated him and every other player who had contributed to that including Calabria, Tomori, and Leao. They also sacked Maldini and Massara and sold Tonali.
The morale at the club was shot so there is no point judging the players. Even Morata struggled and he’s won at every level.
Had Theo been at the club this season there’s a good chance he’d have returned to form, and his presence could well have pushed Milan towards the Scudetto.
Theo was one of the only difference makers at the club (along with Leao and Pulisic). Rabiot has stepped in a difference maker this season but what Theo brought was unique and irreplaceable.
Bartesaghi is great but if a club is going to crowd out youth they should at least do it with difference makers (v some average nobodies).
Listen buddy,
The club is bigger than any player either past or present, and real managers of football clubs remember this as a guiding principle. So the sack of Maldini cannot and should not lead to a collapse of a club that was existent even before he was born. His legacy was born in Milan, so his legacy cannot be what defines Milan.
Bayern sacked legends like Oliver Kahn and Salihamidzic and are enroute the UCL finals. The club did not fold up.
In fact, players like De Ligt and Tel who were loyal to them because they were brought in by them (like Maldini brought in Theo) were sold off and player like Musiala who was visibly hurt but showed responsibility to the club and not an individual director was kept.
Look how the careers of De Ligt and Tel has been since they left Bayern, such players rarely do well because instead of giving their unreserved responsibility to the club they play for, they look for petty attachments which is a great sign of a weak mentality.
Theo left for €25m, but Atlètico continued to offer €15m not because his talent wasn’t worth even €50m but because beyond the footballer is the man Theo. And his attitude made them prefer to Rugerri for that €25m a player who Theo is clearly better than.
Even the Atlètico Madrid fans protested against him coming back despite his enormous talent, that should speak a lot because he’s not the first to leave Atlètico to Madrid, heck, even Morata went to Madrid, but the fans never minded having him back.
The problem with Milan isn’t and can never be to sack Maldini, but that those who took over haven’t taken the club to a higher level.
At the beginning of the season, we were all excited that we got a real Serie A experienced Sports Director in Tare, but he hasn’t done much so far.
“Plastic armchair supporters” are people that don’t agree with you? Ok clown. I agree, you need to get a grip if yourself and understand how irrelevant you are.
While we’re indulging in fantasies, let’s imagine we kept Tonali and Reijnders. Heck, I’d have settled for keeping Abraham and Jovic. And let’s not be too quick to kick a kid who has often been the only Italian in the starting eleven and is having a breakout season. Lastly, for all of Theos athletic and attacking prowess, he was petulant and defensively weak.
Also Donnarumma and Kessie
Or Locatelli…..at a cost of zero.
Milan would have scored few more goals, give up few more goals and be in the same position.
Theo was neither scoring nor defending particularly well last 4 years.
What? 😀 Defending ok, he never was, but not scoring? What do you think is “particularly well” for a left back? 😀 Last season 5 goals and 6 asissts, season before that 5 goals and 11 assists. What is well? 30 goals contribution from LB? 50? He had 10 to 20 in 5 out of 6 seasons at Milan…It’s a ridiculous comment.
of course Theo will be much better than Barte & Estu, esp in this formation w/ Allegri, the minus thing about him is he sign by Maldini, foolani & his buzzer here will scream just like doomday is coming
I was keen for Theo to move on after that last season. He had a rapid decline after Maldini was fired, who was clearly a mentor to him.
The fact remains though that to play an attractive 352 you need quality attacking wing backs. Theo would be excellent in this current formation and would give us a lot more creativity going forward. Something obviously lacking in 2026.
He could defend well when he was inspired to.
He filled in well at CB for a few weeks during one injury crisis.
Theo is a great WB but a not so good FB.
Why do people think players can play at anywhere near their potential when the club is alienating them and backgrounding them in the media?
The owners:
– sacked Maldini and Massara;
– sold Tonali;
– replaced half of the Scudetto winning squad AFTER they had reached the semi-finals of the Champions League;
– failed to back Pioli before sacking him when he finished SECOND (I’d love to know how managers have been sacked for finishing SECOND);
– backgrounded the club captain, Calabria, for about 2 years before forcing him out on the last day of the January transfer window (no send off, apparently being a club captain and the longest serving player deserves);
– alienated other Scudetto winners from Theo to Leao,
and people wonder why certain players didn’t perform last season?
The worst part is most people on here supported all of that.
That’s why I hurl insults at people on here.
“The worst part is most people on here supported all of that.
That’s why I hurl insults at people on here.”
Coming from the one who turned into a Como fan it’s the biggest hypocrisy of any football related website ever. The “fan” who turned against “his” team constantly criticizing the fans who actually support their club and don’t go looking for other clubs to “support”. ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS.
You’re both Como fans in heart.
Which proves you know nothing.