Since Pippo Inzaghi’s departure from AC Milan back in 2021, a lot has been made of a suppose curse on the number nine shirt.
A statement on the club’s official website confirmed the signing of the Frenchman, as he becomes the fourth signing of the summer after Mike Maignan from Lille plus Fikayo Tomori and Sandro Tonali on permanent deals from Chelsea and Brescia respectively. They also confirmed Giroud will take the No.9 shirt.
That has caused a rumble among Milan fans, who haven’t seen a great player in that particular number for nearly a decade now. Since Inzaghi left in 2021, the Rossoneri have seen Alexandre Pato wear the nine (0 goals in 4 games before he switched number), Alessandro Matri (1 in 15), Fernando Torres (1 in 10) and Mattia Destro (3 in 15) all before 2016.
Since then, Brazilian Luis Adriano wore it (4 goals in 26 games), Gianluca Lapadula (8 in 27), Andre Silva (2 in 24) and Gonzalo Higuain (6 in 15) have all worn the number, taking us up to the midway point of the 2018-19 campaign.
The man who looked ready to take on the mantle after a fantastic second half of that season was Krzysztof Piatek, but he switched numbers in summer 2019 to the No.9 and scored 4 in 18 before being sold. Mario Mandzukic is the last to wear it, and he netted 0 in 10 in an injury-riddled spell.
So, it’s over to Olivier Giroud – a Champions League, Premier League and World Cup winning striker – to finally prove that the curse is a myth.
READ MORE: Why replacing Donnarumma with Maignan was the right move by Milan
We just didn’t have a world class strike to wear no. 9. Bring Haaland, Lewandowski or Lukaku and then see if it is actually a curse or disability of the owner to make a superstar deal investment.
To me it wasn’t a striker problem but a midfield problem. Writer failed to realize also since Kaka & Pirlo left, we’ve not had a creative midfielder who creates chances and feeds the strikers too. Higuain, Silva, Cutrone, Paitek were good strikers but the absence of a creative midfielder failed them.
Agreed
If we could bring Lewandowski we would have a striker that guarantes 25+ gols for at least 4 years!
I feel Giroud will play a huge role for Ac Milan
For one, he is a striker that uses the service given to him very well. His strength and aerial ability is a big plus too, will definitely be a problem for Seria A defenders..