AC Milan believe that Mateo Retegui is exactly the striker that Massimiliano Allegri needs, but signing him will not be easy.
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According to Tuttosport (via MilanNews), Retegui’s name is firmly back in Milan’s minds. The Italian-Argentine striker – already sought by the Rossoneri last summer before his decision to move to Al-Qadisiyah – was a key part of the discussions between Igli Tare and agent Alessandro Moggi.
It’s no secret that the Rossoneri director is searching for a prolific striker, capable of following in the footsteps of Olivier Giroud and giving Massimiliano Allegri the firepower up front that he has wanted since he arrived.
Versatility and goals
Retegui represents the profile that closely matches Milan’s current needs, as per the paper. He can play as the focal point in a 3-5-2, being ready to get on the end of service, freeing space for the other forwards but also dropping deeper to get involved in the build-up play.
His presence would allow the Rossoneri to deploy a two-man attack in certain phases of the game. Retegui has also already demonstrated his ability to operate effectively both in a three-man attack and in a pairing.
From a technical standpoint, the 26-year-old ticks the boxes. The real sticking point, however, is the financial aspect: when moving to Saudi Arabia, Retegui signed a contract worth €20m net per season, well beyond Milan’s parameters.
The only viable option would be a complete salary restructuring, perhaps a multi-year deal worth around €5m net per seasonplus bonuses. It will not be easy to convince any player to cut their pay by that amount, however much a return to Italy might appeal.