AC Milan are certainly missing the presence of Ismael Bennacer in the midfield as he and Franck Kessie have formed a formidable double pivot post-lockdown.
As MilanNews writes, Bennacer has been forced to miss 17 games in all competitions this year due to injury. His potential, taking into account his age (23 years old), is significant and that is why he crack the top 10 of the most expensive defensive midfielders in the world. The Algerian is in tenth place in this special ranking with a value of €40m, and is the only player present in Serie A. Jorginho is in eighth place, while Kimmich of Bayern (€90million in value), Casemiro (€70m) and Rodri of Manchester City (€64m) occupy the top positions of the ranking.
The report mentions how ‘tactical intelligence, grit, defensive readings and ability to control the game’ are some of his qualities. His signing in the summer of 2019 had left the Rossoneri fans perplexed, as some had given him the label of a Serie B player, but from the moment he arrived with an African Cup of Nations trophy and the MVP award of the competition in his pocket, the talent was evident.
He had 10 yellow cards in the first 16 league outings and gave away two penalties in the defeat against Fiorentina, but the arrival of Pioli and the new signings in the market lifted the team, Bennacer included. His €50m clause is now perhaps too small, and attracts the attention of major European clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
Of course it would attract the attention by the Oil-Arabs’ clubs, given his quality & that ridiculous release clause! I’ve said this many, many times before – WTF is Maldini waiting & doesn’t resign this exceptional young man, give him bigger wages (as he surely deserves it) and sign off that clause (or put another one of over 100 mil, the way Spanish teams are doing). Does he want him to become another Calhanoglu case, to wait till the very last year of his contract & then be blackmailed for insane wages, or going somewhere free?! Or does he really think in that insane manner, as it was suggested a few days ago, to sell him, in order to get the money for Tomori?!? THAT’LL BE A SUICIDAL MOVE!