Paulo Fonseca has made the decision to bench Theo Hernandez for tonight’s game against Genoa, which will no doubt lead to reflections on his AC Milan future.
Calciomercato.com report that it is an ‘unhappy period for Theo Hernandez’. During this first part of the season, the French full-back has had a series of questionable performances below the expectations of the coach, the management and the fans.
Everyone expects the vice-captain (who wears the armband basically every game due to Davide Calabria being mostly out of the team) to take on greater responsibility than what he has shown in this first third of the season.
It is normal that some questions could be raised about his future, especially amid the possibility that he will not take to the field in the 125th anniversary game against Genoa tonight. In the meantime his deal runs out in 2026, meaning summer puts him a year from expiry.
Negotiations between the parties to extend it and review his salary of €4.5m net per year plus bonuses have not yet begun. Contacts to find a solution to the contract renewal have not been so frequent in recent times, so things need to take a turn one way or another.
A January sale is not totally off the table even if Milan intend to pocket at least €50m from a potential sale. Theo has many admirers around Europe starting with Manchester United, who are looking to replace Luke Shaw.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are keen too, and it revolves around the future of Alphonso Davies who could either renew or join Los Blancos. Whoever doesn’t secure Davies’ services could turn to Theo, as could Paris Saint-Germain where he would go to rejoin his brother Lucas.
Keeping any off-field issues to the side, Theo situation is a mixed bag of d*cks. Fonseca won’t let him attack. He’s not as good defending and in my opinion falls down looking for calls too much – something I never liked about him. So what would drive him to stay?
On the other hand, even what limited defensive form he possesses has been on a decline for a while now. While he may not agree with Fonseca he’s being paid money to do whats asked of him and perform and not compromise the defense of the team. He needs to work on himself and elevate his form.
Shape Up or Ship Out.
Most of these reports are based on CM writers trying to connect dots than reporting based on actual interest from clubs.
PSG has Nuno Mendes who is Theo-like full back, 5 years younger and is about to extend his contract. But because Theo’s brother is playing there let’s just throw in PSG as a team to watch out because Theo would like to play there even though PSG doesn’t need or want him.
Real Madrid got rid of Theo for attitude and behavior issues, but they are going to come and sign him again even though 6 year later he still has those same issues or maybe worse. Not to mention that they just extended Mendy, the LB they signed for 50 m in the same summer when they sold Theo for 20m and won 2 UCL’s with him.
Bayern looks like they will resign Davies, or if they don’t they want to go for Leipzig and Germany LB David Raum.
What the football world thought of Theo showed this past summer when he publicly opened the door for leaving Milan and no one knocked and made a serious offer for Theo.
His behavior and effort this season surely makes teams trip over each other to offer more money to sign him.
He should get his head out of his arse and lower his unreasonable salary demands, resign with Milan, start acting like a professional because the special treatment and pampering he has been getting at Milan he won’t get anywhere else.
Yep, Theo’s attitude has been unprofessional, but there is no possible fix at this point, for the various reasons I listed below in my other post in this thread. Nope, he won’t stay and fix his attitude. He’s gone.
His agent will be able to make a point to other clubs that Theo’s decline was a reaction to the environment at Milan rather than a lack of skills. Clubs with good scouts and good sporting directors will likely listen to this argument. Theo is still very young, up to recently was rightly considered to be one of the best left backs in the world, so, he is likely to recover his form once the environment pleases him.
At his likely devalued price point, scouts and sporting directors would have to be idiots to not want a player of his level, for a likely bargain.
I’m quite sure he will find takers, once he and his agent clearly state that he does not want to stay and will not be staying with Milan.
Could see him playing wing back somewhere that uses that formation. Too expensive for Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen but what about United under Amorim? I think he’d be perfect.
Sure they’re not a UCL team but they pay the big bucks. I could see this happening in summer, 40-50mn fee and he gets his 9m net/season wages.
Now if only we’d retained Kerkez …..
Great freaking post.
Theo is all but gone. His poor performances are not out of a lack of skills. He can’t have unlearned to play football in such a short period; thinking of a decline of skills while he is young and in his prime years, is completely absurd. It’s not skills, it’s his state of mind, and the fault is the managers’ and the coach’s.
Sure, one can say that Theo’s attitude is unprofessional. Maybe so. But he’s human.
What happened is that he is unhappy with the coach who doesn’t want him to run up and support the offense (which has always been his strongest skill; he’s a lousy defender but compensated for that by roaming up – while the defense was protected by Kessié; he can no longer do it), he’s unmotivated due to the lack of ambition that the team owner and managers express (a player of his level craves trophies and Theo won’t be get any with the current Milan), and he isn’t happy that his mentor and idol Paolo Maldini was kicked out of the team in a disrespectful manner.
Theo is self-sabotaging his career at Milan, is clearly unhappy and unmotivated, and therefore I bet he won’t be staying. Which, all things considered, is a shame. We don’t even have a deputy for him; much less, a worthy replacement.
Sure, his staying in his current state of mind won’t do any good to the team and to himself. He’s so unmotivated that he has turned into a liability rather than an asset, so partying ways is likely to be better for both Milan and Theo.
I’m prepared to bet that once Theo leaves for greener pastures, he will recover his form and will play at a high level again.
The current owner, managers, and head coach have torpedoed Theo’s career at Milan, and we are seeing the consequences of the mismanagement: from being a huge contributor to our victories, he became a contributor to our losses and a very poor example for his teammates.
At this point, I understand that Theo and Milan are no longer a marriage made in heaven; I wish Theo good luck in his next endeavor. And I hope that soon enough, the idiot we have as the owner, the clowns we have as managers, and the loser we have as head coach will leave the team – unfortunately, not before worsening even more the already striking damage they have inflicted on the club.
Would you all stop this management is the devil “that makes or causes every issues with the players doing their job wrongly” their fault.
You said it yourself that his form is his own doing, and he is self sabotaging his career at Milan. How’s that the management fault?
My question to you is ” Is Theo AC Milan or is AC Milan Theo?
Musah is asked from Stef to Fonseca to play out of position and he does it with a good attitude. Even the futuro are asked the same thing to but why can’t Theo do the same?
I still don’t buy that defense point you guys give that he is no good at defending. That in itself is a big lie. Recall when Stef asked him to play CB, we all marvel that he could defend well, so how much more now that he is asked to put or step up his defense game in his own position?
Is it not ironic that we demand our RB to be good defensively and offensively? So why can’t we demand that from our LB?
While under Stef, we complained about the players attitude and we are still doing the same today. How’s that the management fault. Let’s call a spade a spade when it’s required. For this leave the management out, when it’s their turn we would come for them, but not today.
True words!
Nope. Since the good days of Theo with Milan, it’s the managers that changed. Theo is still Theo. Therefore, yes, it’s the managers’ fault. Like I said, they sacked his idol and mentor, they showed little ambition to win trophies which a player of his level can’t fail to get frustrated about, and they hired a loser of a head coach who doesn’t understand Theo’s strengths. While I never failed to also say that Theo has been unprofessional and has sabotaged himself, I still think that it’s mostly the manager’s fault.
And no, you don’t get to tell me to stop saying what I think. Who do you think you are to try to control what I think and say? Mind your own business. Say what you think, but don’t try to control and censor what others think and say.
Firstly Luigi, you did not answer my question.
Secondly, let’s start from it’s the managers that has changed. Theo was brought in by his mentor as you say with the likes of rafa, bennecer. He has played under 3 managers so far, 1st giampaolo whom played 7 games or so before he was sacked, then Stef, and now Fonseca, so if you say it’s the managers fault that’s delusion in your side.
Thirdly, you keep saying they sacked his mentor been part of his self sabotage is laughable. His mentor played under how many managers and is still regarded as one of the best AC MILAN PLAYER TO EVER DON ON OUR JERSEY because he had an attitude of I bled for this badge, I bled for this club that’s why he is a legend, but his protege is the opposite. A change of manager and he is this lackluster to do his job professionally. And that is on the manager? Nah bro, it’s on him not the club and neither the manager.
Fourthly, And no, you don’t get to tell me to mind my business. Who do you think you are to try to control what I think and say? Say what you think but please be constructive about it. Lol
Managers. I’m not saying head coach. I said managers as in the club officials that manage the club. You are talking about a bunch of head coaches, I’m taking about ownership/managers.
Oh how funny you are… YOU aggressively address what I said, and when I react you think I’m doing the same thing that you were doing. YOU started it, buddy,
Now, get lost. I won’t be replying to your ridiculous posts any longer.
The guy needs a bit of rest here and there, that’s basically it. Theo is one of our top players, and still one of the best LB in the world. Fonseca needs to utilize him better, and not create drama as he does week day and week out.