A chance has presented itself to Pierre Kalulu to show Stefano Pioli what he is capable of and now he must seize is in the biggest game of all.
This morning’s edition of Tuttosport (via PianetaMilan) writes that Kalulu will stay at Milanello over the international break to prepare for the game against Inter on Saturday 16 September, one he will start because of Fikayo Tomori’s suspension.
Kalulu has been overtaken in the hierarchies by Malick Thiaw who has been used as Tomori’s partner pretty much since earlier in the year, and he could also have packed his bags at the end of August.
Bayern Munich included him in their list of candidates to replace Benjamin Pavard who was sold to Inter, but nothing materialised because Bayern never presented an official proposal to the Rossoneri.
The Bavarians only contacted Kalulu’s entourage and if an offer were to be sent it would have been a loan with option to buy formula, one that Milan would not have even taken into consideration.
Kalulu is thus experiencing ‘a hybrid phase of his career’ at Milan also regarding the role. At the beginning of the season, coach Pioli said that he would play almost exclusively as a central defender.
Then, when the Frenchman entered the pitch, he practically always did so as a right-back. Now, Kalulu will have a double chance to regain his place as a starter in the team, as he did in the year the Rossoneri won the Scudetto.
He will have to take advantage of Tomori’s disqualification (by winning the battle with Simon Kjær first and foremost) and the fact he will be able to stay at Milanello to prepare for the derby against the joint league leaders.
It will then be up to him; perhaps with a great performance up against the deadly duo of Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram he can show Pioli what he has been missing.
Kalulu is a good player but he lack composure. If he can hold firm on his feet he can send Tomori to the bench.
Milan needs another CB solution . Perhaps Pellegrino can step-up like Thiaw, I don’t know. But clearly Kalulu is a RB, he’s more comfortable there. His position needs to be sorted out cos other players’ careers have been stifled by similar positional limbo issues. I’m would bet he would be in the French senior side with regular games at RB.