Marco Palestra is about to make a big-money move according to reports, but question marks have been raised about his valuation.
While Milan are in chaos trying to entirely reconstruct their management before they can even begin to think about transfer business, other clubs are in negotiations to put the pieces in place for 2026-27.
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Regarding the summer transfer window, however, an interesting comparison arises between two players who had nearly the same numbers in the season that has just finished.
Zachary Athekame has so far made 27 Serie A appearances, with a total of 823 minutes played. In that time he has two goals and two assists for Milan. His value is around €10-15m, having signed for €10m from Young Boys last summer.
Surprisingly, Marco Palestra also has almost the same numbers as the young Swiss in the Italian top flight: 37 matches played for Cagliari, more than 3,000 minutes played, with but only one goal and four assists.
His value is estimated at around €50m and it believes to be the Rossoneri’s city rivals Inter that are leading the race to sign him. Why is the fee potentially over four times as much? Age is not a factor (both are 21), so it can only be an added tax of sorts for a ‘homegrown’ player.
The question mark is called “Do you have eyes?”.
Anyone that watched Palestra understands he is almost world class already. He will be on level of Hakimi soon. Athekame isn’t close to that. Still a good player, but realistically I’d rather have 1 Palestra than 2 Athekame at the moment.
Of course, going to Inter, they keep buying the best players in Serie A and dominating. And nobody else is intelligent enough to follow…
Exactly! Saying it can only be an added tax for a homegrown player is just plain braindead. I dont actually think Oliver thinks that, or atleast I hope so. If you watch Palestra, you see the quality and potential straight away; there is no denying it. Instead of making a post just showing how biased and envious of Inter you are, just dont?
Im seeing myself activly avoiding your content more and more due to insanly bad takes, both in posts like this and the podcast. Luckily, we have better sources. Its sad to see though, I tohught you were better than this.
I couldn’t care less what you think or what you’re disappointed with. Your problem
Who asked you lol
I know you’re saying that to Oliver, but still. I don’t care.
LOL “Almost world class” 😂😂
Thats the reason Italy not qualifying third in row for WC
The media just overrated italian player especially young italian
No, it’s that young Italian players always get overrated by the media. Bartesaghi had a couple good games and they were already comparing him to Maldini. He hasn’t done much else besides those couple good games. And the fact that there are so few good ones that if you want to sign one you have to overpay for them. I’m happy with Athekame.
I think Athekame’s was one of the few positives from yet another chaotic mercato, but there’s just no comparison. I still remember Palestra coming off as a sub for Italy in the infamous Bosnia game, the dude looked like a veteran in a moment where literally the whole country had lied eyes on him and his teammates. He is also more versatile, dynamic and better at defending, compared do Athekame. The latter does produce better crosses and medium range shots, I’ll give him that, but the kid needs to improve his tactical awareness, opponents always manage to play the ball behind his back, at times it was like we had two Tomoris.
The game vs Cagliari is still the most recent football memory we have. Palestra comes in as a sub due to fitness issues and wreaks havoc. Athekame comes in as a sub for us and simply joins the nothingness.
I don’t think anyone with eyes has compared Bartesaghi to Paolo, Palestra is good however, he’s further along in his development, not that Athekame isn’t showing good progress, personally if we do play with wing-backs I can see him starting over Saladmaker next season, as Saladmaker has clearly not worked on his final product and is once again ALL dribbling. 7 G/A in 35 Serie A games with a goal involvement of 13% is unacceptable for a starter. It’s still insane to me that Suso(153 gp 24g 36a), outside of Pulisic is still the most productive player we’ve had on that flank.
Also, media overrating him? I’ve seen fans of Italian teams want Palestra in their squad more often than journalists making a big deal out of his potential. Owners demanding ridiculous money for local players when other teams from the same league are interested is literally a thing throughout all Europe, it has nothing to do with media.
Also, I haven’t seen a single person compare Barte to Maldini, let alone a media outlet. He had a bad second half of the season and everyone acknowledged it, including Barte himself. He has bright future ahead, but the development should be gradual and systematic. He became a starter, because even at that young age he is better than Estupinan.
They did the Maldini comparison. I remember commenting on the absurdity of it, on here. Just like Tonali was going to be the next Pirlo… I guess because they had the same hairstyle. The media is desperate for Italian superstars even tho they aren’t producing them anymore, so any time a youngster shows some glimpses of talent they way overhype them rather than just letting them be who they are.
Who did the Maldini comparison?
As for Tonali, he is to this day the RedBird vultures’ (who hate Italians, lol, the irony) biggest sale and is probably going to Arsenal. I don’t know if he is a “superstar”, but he is definitely doing better than anyone of the 60 players they’ve brought in since then.
No one said he was the next Maldini or World Class. The comparison was they both came through the youth team. For his age and lack of experience, he’s an excellent prospect.
There will always be new talent people, and we have positions with higher need. No need to drown in a tea cup. FFS.
Let’s be honest here palestra isn’t better than athekame the only issue with him last season was the coach, Allegri style is boring that’s why you don’t see much of Athe last season. Give athekame to an attacking coach and see a world class player in him.
One was a backup (played less than 10 full games) in a high pressure, and toxic I should add, environment with higher objectives while the other was a guaranteed starter in a less pressured & harmonious environment with low (in comparison to a team like Milan) seasonal objectives with room to grow as well as make mistakes.
The comparison is unfair on both players.
If Palestra was at Milan this season past, we probably would have destroyed him.
This Mr. Unknown is really poor… sorry
please no more..
I don’t see Marotta spend 40m on useless player even if he is Italian.
It’s not Milan management at Inter.
Marotta spend 100m for Gaglardini, Sensi & Barella, all Italian, young at that time, play in same pos, arrived almost in same time,
2 of them flop 1 being world-class
Imo Athekame is not there yet but has a lot of potential, he just needs more game time. I hope whoever comes in as a coach gives him proper oportunity. He could become a starter in near future for sure.
Once Athekame plays 3000 minutes a season, his value would raise to ~35 million. Same as it was with Kalulu. No surprise there.
Palestra is faster, better dribbler, more versatile, better in defence. Athekame have better cross when no one pressure him.
You don’t look at full back by goal contribution but if you want to do that then Palestra had more goal contribution than Gimenez and Jashari that Milan bought for 70 million.
If someone in the Milan management had any football knowledge then they should sell Saelemaekers, Tomori, De Winter, Pavlovic and Estupiñán then buy Calafiori, Scalvini, Palestra, Udogie and Leoni. You would have the future backline for Italian national team that plays together in club level and in the national team and that would create chemistry which will result winning titles. Inter strength is just that Acerbi, Darmian, Di Marco, Bastoni played together in the national team. This is the reason Marotta sold Dumfries and gonna buy Palestra because he knows Palestra gonna have the RB spot in the Italian national team for a long time while Milan is bringing Moneyball players. Pavlovic Serbia, Gabbia not good enough for Italy, Tomori not good enough for England, De Winter Belgium, Estupiñán Ecuador and this players are just OK that play competitive games ones a week together.
Palestra hype by Italian media/ his agent, Athekame overhype by (self claimed) true fans, both unproven, from the way they play (def/ offense) i’m in to Palestra but only for less than 25m, or get the player who bench him aka Bellanova