CM: Saelemaekers considered immovable by Pioli – the management made a choice in the summer

By Oliver Fisher -

Alexis Saelemaekers is enjoying his status as an untouchable member of Stefano Pioli’s first choice starting XI at Milan, a report claims.

Calciomercato.com focuses on the Belgian and reports how Pioli loves him because he can play anywhere: as a winger or as a wing-back, even as a full-back or on the left flank. He even played as an attacking midfielder with Belgium showing he can take up a central role if needed.

Pioli has made it clear when he selects his ideal line-up: there will be Saelemaekers plus ten other players, and it will be the case against Sassuolo too. He arrived at the Rossoneri in January 2020 with a low profile, and from that day he began to work to convince everyone that he deserves to be there, and he continues to develop.

The management wanted to reward the 22-year-old with the renewal of his contract until 2026, and in the summer the club were looking for a wildcard for their attack but without ever doubting that Saelemaekers would remain the starter.

The former Anderlecht man is one of the most unpredictable players Milan have because he cuts towards the centre to free up the space for the full-back, he is direct and he often makes quick decision on the ball. Versatility, work rate and desire – Pioli is enjoying having such a useful asset.


READ MORE: Milan’s hopes and why Spurs have overtaken PSG – the latest on Kessie’s future

Tags AC Milan Alexis Saelemaekers

3 Comments

  1. I really like saelemaekers and luckily it seems like he will stay for many years to come as im sure he will keep developing with us. I realize that we also need a right winger with more end product but i believe alexis importance really lays in balancing the team because we have a fairly open left side whereas alexis and calabria balances that on the opposite side which in the end greatly benefits our approach going forward as a team on the other side. If we can find someone though who can contribute more in both areas then he deffently would have to work harder for a spot in the starting eleven but even then he would still be of great value to the team.
    Besides of that i actually believe as a person he also contribute a lot to the dressing room as its fairly easy to see from clips that he is kind of a
    enthusiastic mood bomb which propably affect the rest as well.

  2. Honestly, I cannot find any aspect of Saelemaekers game that draws people to him. For me, he runs into a crowd of defenders, loses the ball by ill-passing and pointless dribbles, thereby wasting the runs of team-mates, then every three months makes one outstanding pass that leads to a goal. I can play in any position too, but it doesn’t make a qualitative contribution. We need a player who’s skills are dedicated to the position that Saelemaekers is always put into, which we now have, and there’s no good reason why Saelemaekers can’t sink to the bottom of the pecking order.

Comments are closed

Serie A Standings

Live football scores . Current table, fixtures & results.