For AC Milan, the time has come to make choices regarding the players that they no longer deem to be a part of the plans.
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As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write, Ruben Amorim cannot continue working with a group of over 30 players as was the case in Perth. That is why the injured Mario Gila and four youngsters did not travel to Jakarta for the final friendly, and further cuts are coming.
Organising daily training sessions is difficult enough under such conditions, but just imagine facing an entire season with so many unhappy faces in the dressing room, plus players potentially left off the Serie A and/or Europa League squads.
It is better, then, to take immediate action and have frank conversations with those who do not feature in the Rossoneri’s plans. Amorim has been clear on this point: “Next week will be the time for decisions, and we will make them. We have a large squad and need to decide what to do with certain players.”
Time to make cuts
Warren Bondo was left behind to train at Milanello so he is certainly not in Amorim’s plans, nor are Zachary Athekame and David Odogu who did not play in the last two friendlies, despite having trained with their teammates in the days prior. Athekame is on the verge of a loan move to Lyon.
Then there are Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana, Pervis Estupinan, Yunus Musah, Santiago Gimenez (keep an eye on Porto), Samuele Ricci, Filippo Terracciano and Alphadjo Cisse who could all leave. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Samuel Chukwueze seem to be players the coach sees as useful.
Rafael Leao is a special case: he wants to stay and has regained his smile with his team-mates, yet the club continues to view him as a player who could be sold if the right bid comes in. For the rest, offers are awaited.