Charles De Ketelaere’s performance off the bench against Monza on Saturday has drawn some attentions, as has his decision not to participate in the post-match celebrations.
Corriere della Sera (via PianetaMilan) focuses on the current moment that De Ketelaere is experiencing have not yet managed to take flight since joining the Rossoneri over the summer from Club Brugge for €35m including bonuses and after an 18-goal season with the Belgian champions.
The paper writes how Milan welcomed him, protected him, gave him confidence and continue to give it to him but it becomes difficult to guarantee a starting spot when Brahim Diaz is capable of performances like the one in the brace he scored at the weekend.
CDK on the other hand continues to struggle, because the paper claims that he is being ‘crushed by the weight of an excessive and unsustainable comparison with Ricardo Kaká’. Not only that, but he is yet to find a real definitive tactical position and he must also get stronger physically.
However, Italian football is not Belgian football and the pressures are different, while De Ketelaere has the full support of Milan starting with the management and extending to the fans. They believe that there is plenty of talent and he is only 21 years of age.
It must be remembered that Rafael Leão and Sandro Tonali struggled upon their arrival before developing to become part of the immovable core. If there had not been patience for them too, today they would not be where they are. Zagreb tomorrow provides a new opportunity for De Ketelaere.
People didn’t see that his off-the-ball movement helped in Milan’s third and fourth goal. He ‘pulled’ Monza’s defender to allow Origi and Leao scored.