AC Milan are a side that needs a rework, not a rebuild, and a report has claimed that Fikayo Tomori could be a pivotal part of this under the mentorship of Paulo Fonseca.
For the first time in five years, Milan are entering a summer mercato without Stefano Pioli’s ideologies playing a part in their recruitment strategy. Instead, the Rossoneri will work to mould Pioli’s side into one that can flourish under the reigns of the new manager, who is expected to be Paulo Fonseca.
The Portuguese manager has a similar style to the 58-year-old, at least in terms of formation, and whilst the personnel will be able to alter their ways to suit the new coach, some reinforcements are desired, and they are similar to what any manager would likely expect this summer.
Fonseca would like a striker, a right-back, a holding midfielder, and a central defender. However, he has an idea for his defence – he wants Tomori to be a leader at the back.
As Tuttosport (via Milan News) writes, the central defender will ideally play on the left and will partner the Englishman, with Fonseca liking the idea of building his defence around the 26-year-old, who could improve further with a newfound responsibility.
School of defence is in serie A, so they must take 1 or 2 defender from this league…
Should build it around gabbia imao. Tomori wont step up
Tomori is a known quantity. We know what to expect from him. He needs an anchor next to him for when he’s lost at sea AND a proper DM. Then we get the Scudetto Season Tomori.
But a player from our youth team isn’t a ‘known quantity’?
And from what I know of Tomori is he’s capable of being a great defender and also a total liability.
Gabbia???? Yikes
If he wasn’t Italian I doubt this would be the case. He’s a good player – perfect in a backup role – top 4 – and occasional starter. But he should not be our starting CB IMO
He’s underrated.
Would love to see Varane join he didn’t have his best Season but I still believe he is a great player. Someone who can help in the dressing room. He isn’t that old either so would be perfect to see him the red and black.
Apart from being much worse than he used to be in real he also has a 20M gross salary. Hard pass. He never was that good anyway..it was ramos who made varane look good
Fik has been with for more or less 3 years now, but sadly his growth is not as exponential as we expected. Contrary we could see more and more of his flaws this season. Unless we can replicated the same exact system as we used on our Scudetto season, it’s hard to see his best form again.
I disagree in the sense that we have seen a stellar for from him in the Scudetto season that hasn’t been replicated arguably either because of the lack of defensive tactics, proper DM coverage or a reliable CB partner and injuries.
But you know what he gives you when reinforced.
Calabria on the other hand…. Scudetto season, non Scudetto season… all the same.
Well that’s literally what I was saying. He needs certain system to get the best out of him. From the first match of 22/23 season I already said that our defence had a flaw because there’s no appropriate replacement of Kessie or his role.
If Fonseca want to replicate that system, good for Fik. But I believe a great defender is the one who can adapt for many dimensional type of systems, and partners / players. In that sense is exactly why the like of Bonucci (for instant) will never make it to a great defender list.
What is ‘exponential growth’ in the context of footballers/human beings (as opposed to Moore’s law)???
Fik’s growth has plateaued for the past two season. He is 27 and will not be getting any better. The executive management wants to build the defense around Fik, not Fonseca. His say at Milan will be close to 0. It is basically just another Pioli, this time the guy is not even Italian.
That’s his first mistake – Tomori is not able to lead the defence
Lol. It’s not even he who said this and he’s not even working yet, but here we go
It should be built around Gabbia not tomori Acmilan should sell tomori that will be a better ideas
Gabbia is more mistaken prone than Tomori and he’s slower. That Gabbia was an improvement on Kjaer and Thiaw says more for how much those two suck. Simic or Barteshagi should partner Tomori.
What errors has Gabbia made?
And you know there’s more to being a footballer than speed?
(What’s Gabbia’s speed on FIFA? Is it like 70 or something?)
This is so wrong
This clubs biggest legends are defenders
So maybe someone who has watched them throughout the years would of learned what ingredients are necessary for good to at least decent defending lol
Tomori Calabria Florenzi can not be trusted to play meaningful minutes
Half of the goals conceded this year where a consequence of one of those either not judging/anticipating the flight/direction of the ball accurately, attempting to play out the ball from the back and panicking or clearing the ball directly into opposing players in advantage positions or simply gambling in unnecessary spots giving away cheap free kicks corners penalty etc
They are guilty of high blood pleasure and shortening of my life sadly
In modern football almost all teams do some sort of pressing scheme and you must have classy def who are not enemy with the ball a la a Tomori lol his feet are enemy with the ball
Calabria can’t be trusted???
Didn’t he mark the best player in the world out of the game?
Kvara is literally the only player Calabria oddly shows up against. Also when he’s double teamed.
And Mbappé and any other game where he wasn’t asked to also play in midfield….
Exactly, the games where he was needed to cover the flank like against Napoli and PSG with their lethal wingers, he delivered. Or should I say, in games where he was actually doing what fullbacks are suppose to do.
Starting Piont of Faikure
You see two vital wrong selections
RLCheek is not Number 10 and he is not a man who makes presure and tuckles,
Puslic is real No 10 and Chekuwanxe is the best right winger in the wiorld of football.
So RLC is to be sold this season instead of his Position puslic is real no 10.
Chekuweza is to be lined up first line ups.
M Maginan is to be sold
I don’t see why people expect Tomori to grow further, he’s a good player now and doesn’t have to get better to be an important part of the team. Midfield cover would help though!
Gareth Southgate is being more detrimental to his career than anyone at Milan though, I could understand Tomori wanting to move to England because if he went to a mid-table team there he’d be in every national squad without doubt…
Am total disagree with your Opinions. Coaches are unpredictable. How are we sure,its finesca that want to Build our Defence around TOMORI 🤔 OR JOURNALIST Opinions 🤔. After Transfer market and several Pre-season Matches we will see WHO will be our Milan Backbone ( N/B: DO YOU ALL KNOW THAT ACERBI WAS BENCHED AT INTER BEFORE TURNING TO ENGINE ROOM. SAME THING TO PAVARD FORMER BAYERN DEFEDER TOO. I KEEP FINGERS CROSSED.
Building a defence around a defender who makes too many basic errors……! Try building it around Matteo Gabbia. Not only is he from the youth sector he’s also Italian.
The disrespect gabbia is getting from these coaches and owners is disgusting. He’s the best cb we have, a Milan youth product and he has age on his side. This defense needs to be built around him. Bring in another Italian cb or promote simic. It’s not hard
Have you watched him play? He constantly gets pulled out of positon, he leaves huge gaps. He’s good at blocking and tackling, he’s not good at tracking runners.
What position did he have to be pulled out of given Pioli played with inverted full backs and no DM?
You’re right what was he doing covering for Calabria when Calabria was playing in central midfield!
Here we go counting days of firing Fonseca
I like Fik, seems like a passionate and down to earth guy that genuinely cares but I when it comes to him leading a defensive unit? I don’t think it’s going to happen.
I still think HE needs a leader next to him to thrive.
When it comes to the biggest games, high pressure, do or die, I always feel nervous about Fik at the back cause I feel like a mistake is always loading.
The Tomori when he was still on loan? And the Scudetto season? All day! Especially that loan spell form, but now? I don’t know…
Forza milan
If we can keep hold of Theo, then keep the defence exactly as it is and simply put a dm in front of them.
Invest the entire budget in a top dm and top striker and we are title challengers.
Side point – I want to see a lot more Terracciano next year. The other week his desire to invert (effectively) and go forward excited me. He just needs to play at least semi regularly.