AC Milan have two main midfield targets, but reports suggest they have taken an interest in Johny Cardoso – the American midfielder from Real Betis. Today, a report has taken a deeper look at the player, and what role he could play.
Even before Paulo Fonseca was elected to be the next Milan manager, there was a heavy emphasis placed on the fact that the midfield needed strengthening in terms of numbers and stature, and so far, the interest follows that trend.
Youssouf Fofana offers a completely new profile for the Rossoneri and offers the physical strength being demanded by Fonseca, and whilst Lazar Samardzic might not follow the same bill, he offers additional coverage.
However, another name is being pursued according to reports, and that is Betis midfielder, Cardoso, and Radio Rossonera have taken a look into his profile to see what he could offer to the Diavolo.
The midfielder, born in 2001, is a ‘unique mix of defensive and balancing characteristics’, which is what Milan are lacking, and therefore, looking for. Although he was born in America, he has a Brazilian element to his game after playing for Internacional Porto Alegre.
From Brazil, he moved to Betis in January for around €6 million. As a player, he is definitely more defensive-minded, with strength in aerial battles, tackling and intercepting the ball. Whilst he is not the most effective attacker, he contributed three times in 17 La Liga fixtures, and he could be an ideal fit for the Rossoneri’s midfield.
So a bench player whose purpose is to generate more interest and cash from the US market, as we will have more US national players than Italian ones 🙂
As you saw from Euro, Italian players are lacking currently. So better to make money
Are they lacking or was it the selector change that f’d them?
Mancini won by leaning on the old guard. Spaleti basically froze out the old guard.
There are Italian players worth buying. And you can even get them for cheap if you know when to pounce. Scamacca last summer is a nice example of that. 26M€. Cheap for a 24yo ST, right?
No, because he sucks. 26 million for him is 25 too many. He is a perfect example of overpriced under-talented.
Are you stup!d? 2157 minutes and 18 goals scored. + 7 assist. Those are very good numbers amd atalanta made a very good deal.
Ima give you an example here. Thuram plays for inter and they kill£d the league this season. Very strong team. 3165 minutes 15 goals and 7 assist. That’s 1k more gametime
As a US guy having watched the Copa, of Amy hing the USMNT looked even more anemic.
iIRC Cardosa barely got off the bench and USMNT got grouped by weak teams (sans Uruguay)
Maybe he’s for development, but I’m not terribly hopeful Cardosa has an impact.
I think he’s an ok player, he played like William Carvalho but without long passing skill. Good for rotation but not starting line up commodity yet
Bro…no American outside of Pulisic right now draws in the “American crowd” who wouldn’t already watch Milan. No Musah jerseys at the local sporting good stores and def no Cardoso jerseys.
Cardoso is really really good. Great on the ball, strong defensive positioning, good progressive passer. I’ve watched many of his games as an American. But Betis got rid of the others players in his position, there’s no way they’d sell unless Milan offer something crazy.
He’s also American in passport only. Born in the US to Brazilian parents, moved back there at three months old. Lived his whole life in and learned to play in Brazil. Doesn’t play for their team, because, well he’s not good enough. Many of the US players are mercenaries who are looking for a way onto a national side. Such as Musah, who also was born in the States but left as an infant and grow up in Italy. None of those types will ever be a draw for kit sales. Pulisic is the number one seller by a long way, nobody else is close.
Perhaps Ibra has input on American players. Jonny is a great prospect. And Americans come cheap, IMHO.