Theo Hernandez’s name has constantly been in the headlines over the international break, after his bad performance and red card against Fiorentina but also amid the uncertainty regarding his renewal.
Last Wednesday’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport spoke of ‘the great frost’ involving the left-back, who is wanting €8m net per season plus bonuses to renew with Milan but is not convincing the management with his performances and his behaviour more recently.
The Italian media more generally took aim at the 27-year-old after his disastrous birthday night against Fiorentina in which he gave away a penalty, missed a penalty he shouldn’t have taken and then got sent off at full-time while wearing the captain’s armband.
Now, Pietro Mazzara has given an update on Theo’s situation in his weekly column for MilanNews and he paints a rather more optimistic picture, while also admitting that an economic effort will be needed.
“In a week that was essentially empty of ideas, strangely serene for the current situation of Milan, the issue related to the renewal of Theo Hernandez has dominated the spotlight,” he began.
“The genesis is the front page of the Gazzetta dello Sport a few days ago, where the pink newspaper announced a request for 8 million in wages from the Frenchman that Milan do not seem willing to accommodate.
“But the big hit was made by TeleLombardia, interviewing Manuel Quilon, agent of the French full-back, who gave an overview of the situation. Milan has not spoken to him since May-June, a period in which they had received the player’s will – unchanged – to remain at Milan. Thank you, goodbye and silent phones for months.
“In the meantime, at Milanello, the management had direct talks with the boy, once again receiving openness towards the renewal, but it is logical and evident that the procedure to follow is always the same, that is, to sit at the table with the player’s agent who will never do anything contrary to the wishes of his client.
“Quilon’s torpedo has ‘flushed out’ Milan’s position, which now finds itself forced to make at least one phone call to the agent, at least to avoid further annoying Theo’s agent. From what we know, Theo Hernandez would not have made a request for 8 million, but rather would be inclined to ask for 6.5-7 guaranteed, knowing full well that Milan cannot go beyond certain figures.
“But the game of wanting to pass the player off as a capricious one who wants to break up in order to be sold, is not the right interpretation. Also because if it were to break up, no one would come to pay the money he is worth in terms of his contract, but would show up with a lower offer to get rid of the problem.
“And strong players, this must be remembered and underlined, are never a problem, especially when they are calm and you recover them from a mental point of view.”