AC Milan made 10 signings during the summer transfer window and a midfield revamp was conducted, something Tijjani Reijnders is proving to be at the forefront of.
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MilanNews recall how Sandro Tonali’s sale to Newcastle United brought a potential €80m to the club’s accounts (including bonuses) but also produced a gap in the squad that needed filling, especially with Ismael Bennacer injured.
Finding a replacement worthy of Tonali means finding a player capable of having a significant impact in all phases; possession and non-possession, attacking and defensive transitions.
Not only that, but the Italian a player capable of reading the game, understanding the moments of the match, making runs and presenting himself at the right times.
The offer that came from Newcastle – which is currently irrefutable for Italian clubs – came in because the English club see him as one of the most complete interpreters of the role in the world.
The work of Geoffrey Moncada and his team identified Reijnders as the right man to take up his legacy on the pitch, with slightly different characteristics but similar principles.
The switch to a three-man midfield and an attacking trident was made by Pioli, but the fluidity of the coach’s schemes means that there is a lot of dynamic movement and players finding themselves in different positions.
This is why we often see Reijnders get forward into attacking areas, and he certainly covered a lot ground in the first three games as well (over 12km) in each.
He has shown clarity in possession too. Against Bologna he completed 100% of his passes, registering his first assist after 11 minutes. Now the aim is for the 25-year-old to remain consistent, and help guide his new club towards the biggest targets.
