Journalist Niccolò Ceccarini has backed Charles De Ketelaere to start showing very positive signs soon, and also touched upon the latest regarding Rafael Leao’s renewal.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
It has been a somewhat unpredictable start to the new season in Serie A with last season’s underachievers Atalanta top of the pile along with a side in Napoli who underwent huge overhaul. If you think you can call what happens for the rest of the campaign though, make sure not to miss out on the welcome offers available.
MilanNews spoke to the journalist and director of TMW Radio – Niccolo Ceccarini – to get his thoughts on a number of different topics related to the Rossoneri at present.
On Milan’s start to the season: “I think this start to the league is positive all in all. After seven days Milan have 14 points, 3 points from the top of the standings, therefore absolutely in line with what could be the Scudetto plans. Some expected that maybe the Italian champions would already be in command of Serie A, but this is a particularly balanced season in which anything can always happen.”
On the game against Napoli and the team’s key pillars: “AC Milan against Napoli do not come out badly in the slightest bit. The team is strong, at the height, the performance was there. The Rossoneri had their chances: the result does not reward Pioli’s team but in my opinion it could easily have been a draw.
“The performance, however, remains the litmus test of the health of the team, and this is a team that is well and has certainties. There are points of untouchable references, starting with the goalkeeper.
“Maignan was one of the best transfer market operations of the Maldini-Massara couple. It is a certainty that cost 15 million euros, it is not making us regret Donnarumma in the least. In defense it seems to me that Kalulu has grown a lot, then there is Tomori and soon we will have the chance to see also the best Kjaer.
“In midfield they are expecting what will be the best De Ketelaere and in front the purchase of Origi can give alternative solutions, while Giroud remains a point of reference. Experience, quality, determination, determination and heavy goals.”
On the start in the Champions League so far: “I think this team has many interesting ideas and can be a protagonist again this season. They have started well in the Champions League too, 4 points have arrived from the first two games: the draw with Salzburg and the home victory against Dinamo Zagreb.
“Against the Croatians there were three very important points. Milan suffered a little but then took the result home. There will still be many games, there will be a month and a half to do everything in a breath, in which Milan can certainly improve.”
On renewals: “Milan did an excellent job with Tonali, Tomori, Pobega. More are coming, like those of Kalulu and Bennacer. I think there will be an opportunity to see a renewal of Giroud soon, because the Frenchman is becoming an important player.
“Also from this point of view, therefore, the team is growing. We also see many perspective operations, for example I like the reactive ability of Milan with which, in the moment of difficulty due to Florenzi’s injury, they immediately went to sign Dest. You can immediately see the ability of the market men to find a solution in a short time.”
On De Ketelaere: “He is an extraordinary, fantastic player. To date he is still not the best version of itself, but I considered it one of the best operations in the international market. Milan spent 35 million euros which in my opinion are very well spent for such a profile.
“It is a huge investment, you will see that he will do great things in the Italian league and will become one of the best players on the world scene. He needs to wait a moment, surely he has to get in a little better with the situations of our league, but we are facing, in my opinion, an absolute talent.”
On the Leao situation: “It is clear that at Milan there is also another aspect to evaluate: the important growth of Leao. He is an extraordinary player, for which Milan made an important transfer market transaction with Lille. They paid 30 million euros and today he is certainly worth more than 100.
“Chelsea wanted him, Milan were very good at resisting. Now they are negotiating the renewal, it will not be easy because the demands are high. The player’s will could make the difference. I think from this point there are good margins, although of course making a prediction on how it will end is not easy.
“There is also the issue of compensation to Sporting which can create difficulties, but I believe that Leao really needs to stay at Milan. With the Rossoneri he can grow and further become a great player. Then in the market never say never, it is clear that if a sensational offer arrives next summer there it will be necessary to see if Milan will be able to resist.”
