Atalanta are looking to make some midfield moves this summer and one name that has caught their eye is AC Milan’s Samuele Ricci.
The summer transfer window – largely thanks to the World Cup – is progressing slowly. This is especially the case for Milan, given that they pursued various managerial hires before eventually deciding to promote from within after weeks of talks with candidates.
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Sarri wants Ricci
As Tuttosport (via MilanNews) explains this morning, the ‘new’ directors might just be picking up a call from Atalanta soon. In addition to Ardon Jashari – who has already been linked with the Bergamo club in recent days – La Dea have now also set their sights on Ricci.
The former Torino star is highly regarded by Maurizio Sarri, the new Atalanta coach. Milan paid €22m plus bonuses to acquire him from Torino a year ago, and their valuation on the Italian is €20m at least, in order to avoid a capital loss.
Ricci’s fate is likely to depend a lot on whether Ruben Amorim thinks that he can adapt to the requirements for his double pivot. As we analysed yesterday, the duo tends to consist of a defensive midfielder and a box-to-box man, so he could fit into the latter a bit more.
There’s one simple question to ask: if we sell any player will we be better now or in a year or two with the money we get and the player or players we can buy with that money. If the answer is ‘yes’, sell. I think the problem for these two players is that Modric and Rabiot will most likely be pencilled in as starters. I’m am not as convinced about Modeic being a starter in a double pivot. Can he still do the running?
He can’t and you know it.
You are right, since I raised the issue with Modric, I do doubt he can play that role.
And what is the doubt? He ran more than some 15 years younger players. Allegri played him for 34 games at an average of 83 minutes. So he played quite a lot. Compare his running stats to those that were behind him and didn’t play a lot, so they weren’t tired.
What about chances created, most interceptions per 90 of all players, most recoveries? Which part says that he can’t run? Having great defensive contribution while playing 83 minutes for 34 games and 3 goals and 2 assists as a DM?
The most important question, you think Modric can’t play that but Jashari can?
Literally most KM covered last season of any Milan players, Luka Modric.
Fofana likes this.
Estupinan, Fofana/Ricci, RLC, Leao, Santi- it is that simple. Tomori & Nkunku? We’ll see, there is time.
No way we must have Italian players for the squad list f sarri and f Atalanta unless they pay us 50 mil
Sarri, don’t you like your RLC again? Go for him, please
Keep Ricci ffs, give him the time he deserves!!! And get Zaniolo asap! Comotto must be kept at all times, must never be let go, he is a fantastic talent that needs to be nourished, and same for Gabbia too, he must never be let go and frankly, the captain’s armband belongs to him.
But oh wait, let me guess: nah, we’re going to go for Musah and Estupiñan type of f****** players 🙄
Ricci had ample opportunities and was terrible. No one “deserves” time, you have to earn it with good performances and Ricci had zero of those. The invisible man!
By not means he was terrible. Jashari was.
Ricci on the other hand was decent, and for a squad rotation player this is sufficient.
I call bs. We arent gonna sell an promising italian player for barely his value on the books with europa league and UEFA squad rules coming up.
Only scenario would be if an PL club came and offered 50-60 million for him (Tonali type of deal)
Milan should keep ricci at all costs and send atalanta to hell. IT IS MADNESS TO SELL AN INTERNATIONAL PLAYER.
Ricci played 3 season for Torino about 30 games a season and 80% of these games he played as a defensive midfielder, in the center. He is not a mazzala as Allegri insisted on nor is he a ragista, he is a pure defensive midfielder the exact same problem we have with Fofana. We have potetially two very good DMs but we insist on the Ragista and both of them suffer. Also Jashari is not a regista which he have been used as he is the one who should have played mazzala not Ricci.
Both Ricci and Jashari deserve to stay and be given a chance to prove them selves in their natural role