AC Milan faced all of 2020 with only three centre-backs available, except for the two appearances by Mateo Musacchio against Verona and Fiorentina. One of these three players is Matteo Gabbia.
The young man from Varese returned to the Rossoneri after the loan at Lucchese, a test in a club that was struggling to avoid relegation in Serie C. Despite being just 19, the defender showed personality in addition to the well-known defensive qualities, as highlighted by MilanNews.it.
Marco Giampaolo wanted to keep him at all costs last summer, despite the presence of many other centre-back. If he had pushed more for the now 20-year-old, Milan could have avoided signing Leo Duarte, thus saving a considerable sum.
Gabbia confirmed that he’s a reliable defender, far from scared by the weight of the Rossoneri shirt. In recent months, there have been many suggestions with regards to his future, with evaluations made between Milan and the player’s entourage.
Is it better to keep him or loan him out? Pioli, at least on paper, has five centre-backs: Alessio Romagnoli, Simon Kjaer, Musacchio, Duarte and precisely Gabbia. The Argentine is expected to return in October and seems out of the plans.
Meanwhile, Duarte, due to physical problems in a chain, has barely been seen. To date, No-46 would still be the third-choice centre-back, an aspect to be considered in the market.
It’s clear that a club that wants to return to the Champions League, and make its way in Europe, can’t rely on just three players. The best thing would be to let both Musacchio and Duarte leave, keep Gabbia and buy a new defender.
However, we know that parting ways with both South Americans won’t be easy at all. That being said, Gabbia has shown that he deserves confirmation. Now Milan will have to make the best call, strengthening the department without giving up their talents.
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