Something that seemed unthinkable a few weeks ago is now gaining traction: AC Milan are considering whether to renew Luka Jovic’s deal.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport report, Jovic falls into the category of players who say what they truly feel on the rare occasions that they are put in front of the cameras, such as after the game against Napoli in which he came off the bench and scored.
“I’m happy to have taken advantage of the opportunities that were given to me, because this year I haven’t had many. I hope everything changes. I think I deserve more space in Milan too,” he said.
“Last year with my goals we took at least ten points, reached the Champions League and then second place, thanks to which we played the Super Cup in Arabia, which we won. I think I deserve more minutes this year too”.
He was also used as a substitute in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Fiorentina, and spoke to the media again: “I try to do what I can in the minutes I’m given. I want to play my best in every game, do what I can. I hope the coach notices that.”
A knock on the door
Jovic therefore has tapped on Conceiçao’s office door and asked for more chance to show what he can do. The Serbian is asking for trust, at least for this last month and a half of a season spent almost entirely in the back corner of the drawer.
It is the place where you put things that you don’t normally use but don’t want to throw away, because maybe sooner or later they’ll come in handy. Here, Jovic has come in handy again and in the last few games his place is on the coach’s bedside table. Like a good book to read before bed.
Conceiçao will coach elsewhere next season, but for Jovic it’s important to show that he’s alive regardless of who arrives. His contract is expiring and Milan have an option to renew it again, so in the next eight games he is playing for his future.
Where next?
It is easy to imagine that the arrival of a new coach could intrigue the former Real Madrid man, because everyone starts with a clean slate and they might perhaps more inclined to give him minutes.
However, it should also be underlined that the 27-year-old has had a troubled year from a physical point of view. He was affected first by lower back pain that has recurred several times and forced him to undergo surgery (it was the end of November) and remain out for three months, missing 12 games.
Then there were other muscular problems: out another three games. Though has also been penalised by the technical choices of the coaches. Paulo Fonseca, for example, excluded him from the Champions League list in September.
Luka’s season so far can be summed up in nine appearances, of which only one as a starter, for a total of 198 minutes. Yet, the two goals in the last two outings mean a goal every 99 minutes and there are no players in the squad with a similar average.
This is Jovic’s calling card for next season, wherever his destiny takes him. Also because with Milan it will be necessary to clarify: staying to be Santiago Gimenez’s deputy would make sense, staying to be the third centre-forward in the squad, at 27 years old, would make no sense at all.
Our strikers are complete, buy good DM FFS..
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Definitely no, I hope Jovic stay, same with Gimene, and hope Abraham goes..
We need another good striker and and 4th striker will be someone from primavera/futuro…. definitely we need to change system , 4-2-3-1 is no more good for us
Yes, get rid of the guy who’s been our best striker this season by a mile. That’s brilliant. If you look at goals and assists per minutes played Tammy leads the club, including multiple game winners. 10 goals and 5 assists in all competitions for a guy who hasn’t even had as much playing time as others is pretty impressive. But I guess he’s just not the right color for some people.
This article is laughable. I like Jovic but he has not even played enough minutes to be considered in this category. The comment about his two goals is absurdly stupid. That’s like saying some guy that comes off the bench in 1 game for 20 mins and score a goal has the best scoring average on the team because he averages a goal every 20 minutes. It’s ridiculous.
Abraham is most useless player of All time what we ever have… really ?? 25 games in seria A with 3 goals and 3A? This is the great striker for you? He miss so many opportunities, also thanks to him we are so bad this season.
No thanks, he is so so bad… Jovic is more clinical striker then Him and no, it’s not about his color..