AC Milan are continuing to negotiate with Theo Hernandez over a renewal despite being worried about his recent form, a report claims.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes how Charles De Ketelaere climbing on his shoulders (foul or not) and scoring for Atalanta on Friday night makes Theo Hernandez look even smaller in comparison.
It’s not the first time that Theo has lost a duel: the one in Cagliari against Zappa was sensational, left free to score a brace. These are the most obvious recent errors, but the Frenchman’s performances are increasingly below par.
He is struggling in defence – his weak point since the beginning of his time with Milan – but he has also limited his attacking influence too. In general, he has the attitude that Leao was reproached for in the past, before the Fonseca treatment: ‘distracted, absent-minded, almost disinterested’.
The comparison with Leao ends here though, because in the case of the Portuguese the coach decided to field Noah Okafor, who has less explosiveness but can still cover the role of left wing winger.
In place of Theo, there are few alternatives. Up to now the deputy in case of need has been Filippo Terracciano, not always convincing. Davide Calabria shifted to the left side is another alternative, but he is already struggling to find space on the right, in his natural role.
The third option is the young Alex Jimenez, one of the pillars of Milan Futuro. He is young and much less experienced, while without him the Under 23 team would potentially be at risk of sinking even further. So Theo, even without meriting it recently, remains an irreplaceable player.
Fonseca hopes that at any moment he can rekindle and become one of the strengths of the group. Today, on the contrary, he is the weak link in the left chain and arguably the symbol of the confusion that the whole team are suffering from.
With a contract expiring in the summer of 2026, his renewal has become the subject of discussion too. Despite his current performance levels, Hernandez is asking for an adjustment to his salary which is currently €4.5m.
The parties will try to meet halfway, so much so that the agreement does not seem so difficult to reach. Indeed, after Matteo Gabbia’s extension, the next signatures on the agenda are those of the two Frenchmen, Theo and Mike Maignan.
Neither the captain’s armband nor the signature on the contract will be enough to tie Theo to Milan in the future: the renewal could instead be a move to protect the club from any low-ball offers. With a more binding contract, any bids from abroad will have to be sizeable.
There was talk of Theo at Bayern Munich in the summer, but they didn’t make room for him with the sale of Alphonso Davies to Real Madrid. A European merry-go-round of full-backs could start again in the summer, though, ad the 27-year-old could hop on it.
Just switch to 3-4-3
Thiaw Gabbia Pavlovic
Emerson Fofana Reijnders Theo
Pulisic Morata Leao
Most Italian coaches excel with this in Serie A now
or 3-5-2. But yeah, backline of three would be good.
I think we’re more suited for a 3-4-3 rather than a 3-5-2.
3-5-2 means playing with a ST and a SS essentially giving up on one of Leao and Pulisic (if not both of them).
Also Emerson shouldn’t be a RWB or a RCB for that matters.
I’ve always loved formations with 2 strikers. Hence the 3-5-2 preference. 🙂
We’ve done exceptionally well planning for a vice Theo, haven’t we?
Who needs a backup or a replacement as he “is happy”, right? Don’t worry about the future. Even if the future means next summer. It’s all good. Management knows what they’re doing. Right? 🙂
Not gonna mention anything about the videos we’ve all seen where he’s doing what he did, are you? Who cares about his renewal? is that really what you’re worried about with the accusations against him going around? That pathetic loser can never wear the Milan shirt again.
If it isn’t on sempre Milan, then it doesn’t matter..