QS: Three players ‘looking for redemption’ under Allegri – why each can be useful

In addition to focusing on new faces, Massimiliano Allegri will try to give new impetus to those who remain at AC Milan, a report claims.

As Quotidiano Sportivo write, Luka Modric is experiencing his last tango in a Real Madrid shirt. The countdown for Samuele Ricci is on, who will undergo his medical tomorrow, and the tug of war has reached a decisive phase with Club Brugge over Ardon Jashari.

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However, there are also some players who perhaps were not so sure of a spot in the squad heading into next season that Allegri can bring the best out of.

RLC, Saelemaekers and Pavlovic to stay

In the revolutionised midfield of Milan, there is also someone who is already in the squad and, at the same time, could be worth as a new purchase: Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Igli Tare declared this in a recent press conference.

“He is one of the most complete midfielders in Europe, he can be fundamental: we must try to manage the injury issue better, but his value is not up for discussion,” he said. A clear message, signed by Massimiliano Allegri: he is staying, after a season conditioned by physical problems.

He had few hitches with Paulo Fonseca: “He tears with the ball at his feet, he has more difficulty when there is no space.” Some praise from Sergio Conceiçao followed: “He gets into the box well and is physically a monster.”

The Englishman has characteristics that were appreciated by Maurizio Sarri during his time at Chelsea. And by Allegri, who knows well that the 29-year-old – in Pioli’s last year – finished with 10 goals for the season.

More recent (and weighty) numbers are those of Alexis Saelemaekers: seven goals and as many assists with Roma. The Belgian showed himself as a wild card with the Giallorossi, making the right wing-back spot his own.

Fonseca would have kept him and had deployed him in place of Theo Hernandez in the first match of the season. It went differently, as in the previous season, when he moved on loan to Bologna. Not now.

Among the first steps for Tare was a meeting with Roma to close any discussion on the 26-year-old. Barring sensational offers, he will (re)offer his versatility to the Diavolo as the deputy Pulisic, not without the possibility of starting further back.

Speaking of the defence, we come to Strahinja Pavlovic. Milan often changed the centre-back pairing during the season, only to end up with a three-man defence, and the Serbian has also ended up in rotation and on the bench.

Fonseca stated on the ex-Salzburg man: “We are working to make him more balanced compared to the physical player who always wants to anticipate.” Conceicao then added later on: “He has incredible desire, but it takes him out of position.”

He is the only left-footed central defender in the squad. At the beginning of June, the €30m offered by Crystal Palace was rejected. Allegri, on a defensive level, is a master: in eight years at Juventus, only once has his defence not been among the top three for goals conceded. And he can work on Pavlovic.