Alessio Romagnoli is back from injury but Pierre Kalulu’s form is giving Stefano Pioli a real issue to resolve, according to a report.
La Gazzetta dello Sport writes how Kalulu has risen the ladder in the last two matches as first he helped neutralise Victor Osimhen in the 1-0 win over Napoli and then he decided the match against Empoli with a nice curling shot.
At 21 years old and with 1617 minutes played, Kalulu is beginning to show that he was a jewel worth betting on. He has speed, tactical intelligence, makes very few mistakes and has good basic technique. He has played 12 games as a right-back, 4 at left-back and 9 at centre-back, showing that he can hold down multiple roles well.
What about Romagnoli? Kjaer’s injury made him a starter and he has 25 games and 1 goal to his name, but against Empoli he remained on the bench despite being back from an injury that forced him off in the cup win over Inter.
There is the matter of his expiring contract hanging over the captain’s head while Lazio – the team of which he has always been a fan – are chasing him. Compared to Kalulu he certainly has more experience, more technique, he knows how to build play up, but he is less athletic and is slower in one-on-one which does not favour a high line.
Tomori-Kalulu means Pioli has two fast and aggressive defenders, with Romagnoli an added value on building out from the back, plus the obvious fact that he is the captain. At the beginning of the season, Milan did not sell him because Pioli demanded four strong central players for the three competitions.
After leaving the Champions League, Milan are still in the running for the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia. Romagnoli has recovered from the injury sustained in the derby and is ready for Cagliari, but Pioli has a decision to make.