Pellegatti emphatically refutes idea Milan could let €32m man leave: “Don’t even talk about it"

Any idea that Charles De Ketelaere could be allowed to leave AC Milan in the January window has been emphatically rebuffed by journalist Carlo Pellegatti.

Milan were locked in a long negotiations to sign De Ketelaere over the summer with Leeds United also keen on signing the Belgian, with the Rossoneri eventually winning the race. However, the 21-year-old without a goal to his name yet and it would be fair to say he has not hit the ground running.

TEAMtalk reported earlier in the week that Leeds have ‘asked to be kept informed by Milan’ over their plans for the €32m Belgium international, with their director of football Victor Orta and first-team coach Jesse Marsch still big admirers of the player.

Now, Carlo Pellegatti has shed some light on the plans for De Ketelaere’s future as he spoke in an interview with Radio Rossonera, starting by refuting any possibility of an exit after just a few months.

“Don’t even talk about it. Milan absolutely do not want to move him,” he said (via TEAMtalk).

“A few days ago, I asked if [Milan] were going to go 10 [second striker – de Ketelaere’s position] or 7 [right winger] in the market and was clearly told we don’t need a 10.

“The difficulties of the last few weeks are only temporary. They don’t think he isn’t a player who will be able to express his qualities in the coming months.”