AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri will watch Nicolo Zaniolo first hand during Saturday’s game against Udinese, a report claims.
As Tuttosport (via MilanPress) report this morning, Zaniolo is experiencing a new phase in his career after a difficult past few seasons, and his resurgence hasn’t gone unnoticed, especially at Milan.
After several seasons marred by injuries and inconsistency, Zaniolo seems to have regained consistency and confidence. With Udinese, the club he is on loan at from Galatasaray, he has shown clear signs of improvement.
The numbers speak for themselves: five goals and five assists, often starting as a second striker in a 3-5-2. Beyond the stats, it’s the overall impression that’s convincing: more mature, more involved in the game, even if some of his temperamental excesses haven’t completely disappeared.
Under special observation
Tuttosport adds that Zaniolo’s outing at San Siro tomorrow represents much more than just a game. It will be an audition of sorts, with the forward to be carefully watched by Allegri, a long-time admirer of his.
His name is not new to Allegri or Milan’s orbit either. The club had previously considered him when Paolo Maldini was a director, and Juventus followed him with interest when Allegri was there. Now, with his improving performances, his profile is back in the spotlight.
Udinese appear intent on buying him for around €10m, a reasonable fee in the current market climate. Then, the future is unclear because the possibility to make a quick profit could well appeal to them.
The Rossoneri management will have to intervene heavily in the attacking department, where several players are at risk of leaving, above all Santiago Giménez, Christopher Nkunku, Niclas Füllkrug and even Rafael Leão.
One of the most interesting aspects about Zaniolo is his versatility. He can adapt to both a 3-5-2 as a second striker or to a 4-3-3 as a winger, offering different solutions depending on what the coach wants and needs.
Furthermore, his Italian passport represents a significant advantage in terms of the squad list regulations for European competitions, an increasingly important detail in any club’s planning.
There are no concrete negotiations at the moment, but that could change with a good performance tomorrow under the eyes of Allegri and the directors.
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