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Reports: Theo unconvinced by Saudi move as Atletico Madrid enter the frame

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In the past few days, it has seemed increasingly likely that a move to Saudi Arabia was a possibility for AC Milan outcast Theo Hernandez. However, the chances are lessening. 

It is not the first time that the riches of the Saudi Pro League have made advancements for Theo, and it seems like it will follow the same pattern as it did last time.


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Before the closing of the season, there were suggestions that the defender had rejected a move to the SPL, suggesting that he wanted to stay at Milan, with money not important. However, this time around, it has seemed slightly more possible that a move could occur.

This afternoon, though, Milan News reports that the Frenchman’s future ‘will not’ be in Saudi Arabia, with him stating to his entourage that he wants to stay in Europe. Much like his response to the first courting.

However, this is not the worst thing for the Rossoneri. Rather than asking to negotiate with the club, he is holding out for offers from other top leagues in Europe, and he may not have to wait for long.

According to Sky (via Milan News), Atletico Madrid have emerged as an option, sending an enquiry to the club. Though there are already worries about the deal, considering the Spanish giants are seemingly unwilling to offer a figure of near €35 million.

Tags AC Milan Theo Hernandez

34 Comments

  1. Puli
    (Modric*/Liberalli)

    Ricci* – Fofana
    (Caviglia*/Zeroli) – (Bondo/Adli)

    only for 35M finishing midfield.

  2. We have to keep him. Anything under 35 mil is robbery. Unless he’s spitting on the badge, we need to keep him. I think he’ll appreciate the stability Allegri brings and the players tare will be bringing in. I think allegri is giving Theo the chance to see what’s out there and if Theo decides to stay, allegri will accept him. Kind of like telling your kid “fine run away” knowing they’ll get to the end of the driveway and turn back.

  3. This person does not have as many options as he thinks he does. Milan will never give him 8M per season, that is even higher than Leao’s salary, just insane. He will either move to another club at a price less than 35M (Milan will have to compromise) or he will stay the full course of his contract and will not be playing as much (World Cup is next year). Milan will bring in a new LB to replace him, there is no way Allegri will rely heavily on a player on the last year of his contract. Replacement must happen eventually, make it happen now.

    1. Allegri will absolutely use him if he stays.

      On a full summer’s rest and needing to prove himself before he’s a free agent… he could be a huge difference maker to us next season. Benching him to make a point would be a terrible idea. On form, he can be the difference between us qualifying for the UCL or not next year and would give us a year to scout a replacement.

      1. He sure was the difference this season between qualifying for the UCL or going thru past Feyenord in the UCL.
        So your idea is to keep him, hoping that he will prove himself next season so he can leave Milan for nothing next summer? That’s a great idea.
        You don’t need a year to scout for replacement. He can leave now, so Milan can get money for him to sign a replacement.

        1. Who are you arguing with? Theo decides if he leaves or not. The “idea” is that if you pay someone 4.5M per season you use them. They are under contract. He doesn’t need to “prove himself “ so someone signs him for free. At least one Premier League club will take a risk for 0 fee and 5-6M wages.

          1. And how does that benefit Milan?
            I don’t care what team offers him 5-6 million if he leaves Milan for nothing.

          2. МИЛАН is correct. We have to stop losing players on free transfers. Even if Atletico doesn’t have the money to burn that Al Hilal does, I think that they could come up with 25M, which would still be a good deal for us given that Theo is basically fully amortized. That 25M can then be used to sign someone like Cuyper, and we won’t have to worry about LB for another season.

          3. Correct about what? Theo Hernandez is making the choice, Milan can decide to sell him to however they want and for whatever amount. He can stay. If you ask how does it benefit Milan? Ask the management that got the club into this position. Writing nonsense or using wishful thinking doesn’t change the facts.

          4. @No, I’m not disputing the fact that Hernandez could literally reject all contract offers and stay for the final year of his contract. Nor am I disputing that he would be used by Allegri in such a situation. What I’m saying is that it behooves the club to sell a player before his contract runs down. It’s always better to receive a transfer fee. Finally, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the club benches him if he refuses to accept any offer. It’s been done before, including at this club, and could be done again. In fact, we have a player on our books right now who is sitting in the stands doing nothing because the clubs wants to get rid of him, and he prefers to collect salary. That would be Origi. So not sure how any of it is nonsense or wishful thinking. Theo being more “useful” than Origi is irrelevant, we can always sign another leftback while Theo remains on the books, just as we signed numerous forwards with Origi on the books.

    2. Imagine if football managers were butthurt children like you. Of course Milan will use a player under contract. No Allegri will play someone else to prove a point that has nothing to do with him?

    1. Could we get Udogie for 35mn? Remember spurs were total sh!te but did qualify for UCL, not sure he’d even be interested joining us.

      I’d love to sign him but more realistic we sell Theo closer to 25mn and use the proceeds to buy De Cuyper

  4. Why does no one in Europe want him? But the main thing is that he demands an 8 million salary. What’s wrong with these greedy players?! no more honor…

    1. He will never get that amount. That’s the price he told management, knowing they won’t pony up.

      No one is knocking on the door because he showed his true colors. He wasn’t happy so he acted out like a child. It’s a huge risk for any team as he could do the same thing in a new club.

  5. No one in Europe will pay anything over 15-20mil for him and offer an even lower than his current salary.

    1. Théo will need to accept even some average teams in Europe with the hopes of bouncing back in a year or 2 and accept that 1.5M€ per year doesn’t mean he’ll have to sleep in his car at night.
      If Théo accepts Atletico, I’ll sell him to them even if they only offer 15-20M€.

      1. He can just stay at Milan and he will play. Milan don’t have money to sign another LB and get the players Allegri wants on top. Like Theos agent doesn’t know this. If he isn’t 100% happy with the offer he won’t leave. Next season he can get almost double salary since clubs will save 20-35M on transfer fee, depending what Milan is asking

        1. No one at Milan is paying him 8mil to stay and won’t let him go for free. He’ll get frozen out if he doesn’t make a move …

          1. Freezing him will make no sense. His contract expires in 2026 anyways so if he doesn’t leave this summer, might as well use him the best way we could.

          2. Ok. You don’t have basic common sense in there. No point to even try. Yes, they will pay him 4.5M not to play.

          3. Giga94, you don’t get it. Milan will bench a 4.5M per season player and spend another 35M to have someone play in this position. Let’s not forget Milan needs 2 players, backup as well. So 40-50M spent and pay Theo 4.5M. Real Madrid wouldn’t do this but suddenly Milan is the rich club and will begin. Liverpool didn’t bench Alexander Arnold but Milan has the position to do that.

        2. @No, just like they’re paying Origi 4M not to play, and have been doing so for THREE SEASONS. In this case the club also has some leverage because 2026 is a world cup year. But who knows, maybe Deschamps will select a player who hasn’t played a single minute over the course of the prior season?

      2. It is like 2+2, common sense. You make up nonsense that will never happen. Why would he go to a mid club when he has a contract with Milan?

  6. Some people really need to stop looking at footballers in isolation. Do they really think it’s merely a coincidence that the space Theo leaves (and always did, like most modern fullbacks do) started getting noticed around the same time our midfield became rubbish? I said exactly the same thing about Leao the other day.

    Atleti will offer more like 25. If we think we can replace him for that we are mad!

    I’d keep him even if it risks losing him on a free. If he gels with Ricci he’ll be ‘that’ Theo again. If and when that happens, we can worry about contracts safe in the knowledge Tare will sort it sharpish.

  7. They will be squeezed to accept like 15 to 20 million at most to move him to a team he wants to play for. It won’t even be enough to find a suitable replacement. So that with set us back more than we will save by keeping him at a wage we prefer not to pay. 8 x 4 or 5 is 32 to 40 million. It will cost that plus wages, signing bonuses, with a transfer fee for a lesser player. It is sheer stupidity to let him go or sell. Regardless what the books say, the gain in capital will lead to a bigger loss having to integrate someone else that may offer even less guarantees such as an Emerson, RLC, Chukweze, Morata…they don’t learn..ever..

    They knew of his demands 12 months ago and didn’t sell despite knowing they couldn’t meet them. Stop saying Maldini is why we lost our best players for nothing. The same people are here doing the same ol nonsense with Mike, Theo, did the same with Tonali and TR.

    The problem is not missing CL football. We can still afford to keep everyone. The problem is management and ownership do not want to pay the price to be competitive out of pocket.

    1. Junior Firpo is out of contract at Leeds. I bet the plan is to get that deadwood for free and make any profit on Theo. Firpo is even worse than our King Emerson. So you might be wrong but if I am right team will be weaker.

  8. We can’t afford to lose theo for free and we can’t afford to pay him 8ml anything is fine even 20ml is fine

    1. Correct. Unfortunately he’s done himself no favours over the past two years. He’s ill disciplined and we’re in the era of pressing and hard running. He’d suit the slower pace of La Liga, but only 3 clubs have money.

    2. I’d say sell him to the first club Théo agrees to leave to, even if we end up only making 15M€ out of the transfer.

  9. THEO cannot sit on the bench if he expects to compete in the world cup next year…. HE WILL MOVE ON ! ( dug his own grave )

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