Empoli president Fabrizio Corsi has admitted that midfielder Samuele Ricci is attracting interest amid reports linking Milan with a move, and has passed judgement on Ismael Bennacer’s time at the club so far.
Corsi spoke to Calciomercato.com, first of all discussing Ismael Bennacer’s progress at Milan so far and what his best role is (regista or mezzala).
“He can do both roles, he is one of Milan’s happy notes. The coach has integrated him to the best, he is making the most of him,” he said.
“He will turn 23 at the end of December next and has great growth prospects. If you find three or four positive situations for Milan, one is certainly him. He comes from the African Cup of Nations, having been the best player, now it is up to him to continue the path of growth.”
Corsi then discussed another one of his young talented midfielders in Samuele Ricci, who was linked with a move to Milan by Tuttosport earlier on Thursday.
“There is still no talk of the market, but he is a boy who has admirers. First of all, he has been in the national teams since he was 14 years old.
“It is up to him to keep this head here. Now he must continue on this path of growth, because we are talking about an 18 and a half year old boy, and he plays with the personality of an experienced player.
“He still has great margins, both from a physical and tactical point of view. The important thing is that he maintains the right balance because all these talks that revolve around him surely may not be good for him.”
Is he a player with potential to go on and play for Milan and Roma, two of the teams linked?
“Yes, look I sold Bennacer and Traorè, who are are doing well. I must say that he is a player of that level there but with a superior engine. We have the tools to evaluate the engine and he has a has much better one.
“But, I repeat, he also needs to improve. He has a nice physique, but it can also be filled.”
