It is under one month until AC Milan’s 2025-26 preseason begins, and Ismael Bennacer could well be under the orders of Massimiliano Allegri.
Bennacer has played on loan at Marseille for the last six months and, as Calciomercato.com recall, it was an experience that started well but ended with too many difficulties. In the end he managed only 12 appearances under Roberto De Zerbi.
Bennacer: Back to base?
According to the report, the French club will not exercise the right to redeem the Algerian midfielder for €12m. Their sporting director Mehdi Benatia and coach De Zerbi have been two supporters of Bennacer for some time, however.
The experience shared together at Marseille has strengthened their mutual respect and the basis of the choice not to exercise the buy-out are economic evaluations in relation to the fact that Ismael, due to the many injuries in past seasons, has not been able to give his 100%.
The former Empoli man could still return to Marseille, however, because their management are talking to Milan to try and renew the loan deal.
In the next few days Igli Tare will get to work on the Bennacer issue and the intention is to speak with both the player and Massimiliano Allegri to really understand the motivations and intentions in view of next season.
The general idea would be to sell the Algerian permanently, but the club are open to dialogue with Marseille.
We should keep Bennacer from bench.
Bennacer + €5M and we get Rabiot. Only if he renegotiates his salary/contract. If not, bring Bennacer back and see if Allegri can get him back to his former self.
So… We’ll end up loaning him out until his contract runs out. Where was the Saudis and their 50M€ offers when we needed them?
Sigh. I liked him a lot but after his injuries, he hasnt been the player we knew (the all-rounder mid playing alongside Kessie and Tonali for about 2 seasons). Maybe under Allegri he could have a role, but he isnt who he used to be. We need a prime Bennie tho.