AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has decided not to name Matteo Gabbia in his starting line-up for tonight’s preseason friendly against Real Madrid.
The Milan boss has named a bit of a patchwork XI for the game against the LaLiga giants in Pasadena by virtue of the fact that the recently-returned internationals are not available, while Gabbia has also been left out.
According to MilanNews, Gabbia will not take any part in the game despite being named in all the predicted line-ups, as he is not among the eleven starters nor is he even part of the matchday squad.
The choice is dictated by transfer reasons, given that the 23-year-old is close to a loan move to Villarreal which should materialise over the next few hours.
It does however provide the chance for a Primavera star – namely Jan-Carlo Simic – to step up in his place and show what he can do having been given the chance by Pioli on this preseason tour.
Lol it’s like they made this one for me 😂
I look forward to seeing him playing back in Serie A for one of our rivals in the future.