AC Milan have not given up on the idea of signing Ajax right-back Noussair Mazraoui but they face competition, a report claims.
According to Calciomercato.com, some of the top European clubs are alerted by the opportunity to sign Mazraoui on a free transfer given he is now destined to leave Ajax when his contract expires in June. Milan made a first offer, but it was not deemed enough by the player.
Director Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara have gone back to work in recent weeks to try and beat the competition from both Borussia Dortmund and especially Barcelona to land the 24-year-old, who is a client of Mino Raiola.
However, it must be noted that the Rossoneri already have Davide Calabria, Pierre Kalulu and Alessandro Florenzi in that role and they seem to be part of the club’s future plans, raising inevitable questions about the need to make new investments.
Not only that, but the relationship between the Milan management and Raiola is not ideal given Gigio Donnarumma’s exit plus the fact that Alessio Romagnoli could leave on a free transfer too.
Nonetheless, Mazraoui is a profile that Milan like and there is the idea that Kalulu might now be shifted to centre-back permanently plus there are doubts over whether Florenzi’s €4.5m option to buy will be used given that he is over 30.
The concrete threat from Barcelona hangs over the situation too, because the Blaugrana are looking for a new solution at right-back after having decided not to place any more trust in Sergino Dest. Milan are watching for the moment but have not yet decided whether to sink the blow.
