Well-known journalist and Milan fan Franco Ordine has challenged the club to set a deadline to Gianluigi Donnarumma and Hakan Calhanoglu to try and beat their bluff.
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The media headlines surrounding Milan continue to be dominated by the soap opera related to the renewals of the aforementioned duo. With less than 90 days until both of their contracts expire, it is now a matter or urgency to try and resolve their future or two valuable assets could leave for free.
Everything at the moment though suggests neither are close to renewing and more worryingly that little progress is being made on that front, which of course gives the management a headache as they are in limbo trying to plan for next season.
Ordine spoke during his latest editorial for MilanNews titled ‘Give Gigio and Calha a deadline to sign their contracts so we will discover their respective bluffs’. He revealed his stance on the matter, including why neither Donnarumma nor Calhanoglu are irreplaceable and his belief that the Rossoneri should try to take control of the situation.
“Regarding the contractual renewals that are diverting the attention of the media from the daily news of Milanello, we should make a point. If it is true that Ibra is very close to signing while Donnarumma and Calha risk going to the Greek Calends [a time that is expected to never arrive or occur], then Milan must intervene and take an important step,” he says.
“We have to make a fundamental choice on this issue: do you want a Milan that returns to weigh down the salary without raising the income and therefore from the uncertain future and inevitable decline or do you think that Milan can also do without Donnarumma?
“To answer this question, I recall that Sacchi’s Milan won with Galli and/or Pazzagli in goal, who were not recognized as the best in the world. The same goes for Capello’s Milan with Sebastiano Rossi and/or Antonioli, the same as above from the point of view of the technical figure. Finally, Ancelotti’s Milan won with Abbiati and Dida and raise your hand if you considered that role decisive in the technical construction of the team.
“7 million plus 1 million bonus is the maximum of the maximum: you cannot go further. And at that point Donnarumma must come out and make us understand if the famous phrases attributed to him ‘I want to stay, I won’t leave Milan for nothing’ were authentic or a sensational joke.”
“For Calhanoglu the situation is almost identical. First point: does the Turkish represent the maximum possible in the role? The answer is absolutely no. Just to mention some colleagues, Luis Alberto, Ilicic and De Paul, they are better. His manager continues to tell the story of Juve interested and unfortunately there are some ‘pike’, freshwater fish, that bite.
“AC Milan’s offer is enough and advances, always bearing in mind the period we are experiencing. In both cases, the deadline for deciding should not be extended beyond a certain date so as to allow the club to organise its transfer market.”
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