Alexis Saelemaekers is now facing an uncertain future at AC Milan as Stefano Pioli is reportedly disappointed with his training and his impact in recent games.
Calciomercato.com report that Saelemaekers has played from the first minute on only 17 of the 30 league games so far this season with his last start being back on February 5 against Inter, in which he was replaced at half-time by Junior Messias.
He started Monday’s 0-0 draw against Bologna from the bench and did not even come on which is the latest blow for the former Anderlecht man. Pioli is ‘obviously not happy with his work’ as per the report, both in training and in his last few games as a substitute.
Pioli expects more from the 22-year-old in the season finale, in which he can also become a resource as Davide Calabria’s deputy, especially now that Alessandro Florenzi is out with a knee injury and Pierre Kalulu is being used as a centre-back alongside Fikayo Tomori.
His future is at stake despite the fact his contract is expiring in 2026. Saelemaekers was bought for just over €7m so selling in the summer would mean making a capital gain for the club, which cannot be excluded.
Alexis, Messias and Samu all need to leave at seasons end.
We need competent RW. Messias has been the best of them but wouldn’t sign him.
The failure to see for the past two years that Saelemaekers isn’t a good footballer and resulted in his contract being extended, now leading to this problem of his contract being renewed to 2026…
Charles de Kateleare = Saleamakers + €20m.
Milan see, I fixed it for you.
Maybe the problem is that his coach doesn’t use him in the right place!
He is a hard-working player and a runner; but he isn’t that much creative or killer or goal scorer!
He is not a RW for 4231 or 433.
But he is a RM for 442, or RWB for 352.
RoBeX nailed it. Not sure how he became a RW–necessity maybe?–but it’s not the best spot for him (clearly). He’d be better at RM, and best at RWB. I still think the kid has a solid future ahead of him, I just don’t see it at Milan so long as he’s being used incorrectly.
Saele does work hard and win tackles; but his crosses are often way off the mark and when he gets into areas in the final third where he can try to shoot and score — forget it. Terrible. Even if he were to be a RWB in a 3-5-2 or a RW in a 4-4-2, you still have to be able to deliver good crosses and he’s inconsistent in that department. Messias has been terrible. Of course for next year we need a new RW (or two even?); but for THIS YEAR, we need to start Rebic there at RW because he can get good crosses in, he can score and he presses/defends well. If he needs a rest, Samu should get a chance to sub in. If Leao needs a rest or is having an off day, bring Samu in to the RW and move Rebic from RW to LW.
we will see when and if he gets the start on Sunday, I personally think he is more pro-active than Messias. I want to see Rebic at the 10, he is strong enough to force the ball directly on/toward goal, this header crap has got to stop, Giroud is marked by a minimum of two players. Either Pioli has to change his attacking strategy or expect another clean sheet from the opposition. Bellotti is motivated to single handed win the game for Torino after being snubbed by A.C.