Alexis Saelemaekers is developing a knack of scoring goals from distance, one that has come about during the current calendar year.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Saelemaekers’ goal in Parma on Saturday night – one that opened the scoring in an eventual 2-2 draw – gave the Belgian a record, at least among the current Milan players.
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In Serie A, only Matias Soulé (Roma) and Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter) have scored more goals from outside the area (four) than Saelemaekers (three) in the calendar year 2025. Two of those, it must be said, came with Roma on loan.
The Belgian has scored two goals this season for the Rossoneri: one against Napoli from close range after a lovely feed from Christian Pulisic. The other, a few days ago, came via a precise low shot from outside the area.
What happens inside the box
To the contrary, Saelemaekers has had some troubles finishing big chances this season. In fact, as per FotMob, he has missed the third-most big chances of any Milan player in 2025-26 so far, with three.
The game in Parma was a perfect demonstration of the above. After scoring a lovely goal from 20 yards, the ex-Anderlecht man would then go on to spurn an opportunity after rounding the goalkeeper and giving himself an almost empty net.
Despite scoring seven goals and adding seven assists during his season on loan at Roma in 2024-25, Saelemaekers missed two big chances with them too. To have already surpassed that total with Milan in the current campaign though suggests some work to be done with shooting.
Saelemaekers also has a 31.3% shot on target rate for the season. By contract, Rafael Leao is at 53.3%, Samuele Ricci at 44.4%, Christian Pulisic at 70% and even Youssouf Fofana at 36.8%. Davide Bartesaghi is at 50%, on the opposite flank.
Give him a second on the ball and he’s deadly, especially passing. much less so in frenetic situations.
It has always been like that. He has improved a ton in many areas, shooting from close is something still pending. I remember he used to dribble pass 3 guys like Messi, then pass it to the wrong guy. Defending he shut down one of the best in the league, then get distracted against some rando. He has always had all the tools, attitude, shot, power, speed passing. He just hasnt gotten it together. He’s closer now than in previous years.
He needs to act mature on the field and stop baiting the opposition. We cannot afford him to accumulate yellow cards to the point we lose him for a match. Also, too much dribbling in the box. We do not need him to be another Joao Felix when close to goal. Either shoot or pass the ball to a teammate.