It’s preseason, the mercato is quiet, and so understandably anything is going to be magnified by a million. However, AC Milan didn’t need that.
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Milan have returned to the lull of the mercato. They did their big splash in the water for Goncalo Ramos and Mario Gila, then they went back to the shadows – we’re not including a move for (the admittedly talented) Sankhoun Diawara here – and they’ve rarely been seen since.
Instead, the focus has been on the Rossoneri’s lack of business. It’s felt like a return to the previous management for many, with a need to sell before any signings can be made. Unfortunately, it’s one of the more frustrating phases of the mercato, but it’s not just happening at Casa Milan.
Indeed, barring the super clubs, it feels like everyone is struggling to make movements this summer and you cannot ignore €100 million of spending.
Nevertheless, because of that quietness, there is more volume for everything else. Poor results in pre-season? Terrible. Players not being sold? Terrible. On and on and on and on – you get the idea.
Unfortunately, holidays have now come into this, too.
The situation
If you’ve been under a rock in recent days, you may have missed that Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot were set to return tomorrow (August 12). However, they have been given an extra four days off for seemingly no reason.
Indeed, reports are still questioning the reasoning for the decision and it seems like there isn’t a reason for their extended break.
So, when you consider that other French, Argentine, English and Spanish players are either back with their teams – or heading back in the next day or so – questions only increase, putting everyone in a bit of a strained position.
Just an extended break
Perhaps you can excuse the extended break by keeping things simple. First and foremost, they were the two of the biggest guarantees last season. Between them, they played almost 6,000 minutes and Massimiliano Allegri relied on them heavily.
So, you can argue that they won’t need a major amount of time to re-settle into the squad, given their places are effectively ironed out for them.
Additionally, you’re potentially giving them a bit extra for your own sake. A few days won’t make the world of a difference, but not rushing them back could ensure that they are fully ready for the season, which is a must.
What’s four days compared to an eight-month season?
Why have an extended break?
Unfortunately, the flip side of this is where we face issues. First and foremost, they appear to be the only two players who – including those who are injured – are not returning to training when they were initially scheduled to from the World Cup’s final four.
But what’s four days in the grand scheme of things? Well, that’s missing every pre-season game (given they now won’t return before this weekend’s clash in Poland) and returning to camp a week before the first game of the season. That’s not normal, nor should it be for two of your most senior players.
Luka Modric returned on August 2 and has played less than 60 minutes across two games in friendlies. Are Rabiot and Maignan going to return to Serie A action after a week of training and be fully ready? You’re asking a lot, probably too much.
Then, you have the fact that both players’ futures have been in doubt. Right now, the expectation is that the French duo will stay. However, Rabiot was a little coy when asked during the World Cup.
Adrien Rabiot, when asked about his future…
“First I’ll enjoy the holidays. We have been waiting for this since we lost to Spain. Then it was a really difficult few days mentally; it was hard to concentrate on playing this match. A well-deserved holiday; we need to rest well.”
Are you starting over with Milan when you get back?
“Yes, obviously, then we will talk to the coach and Mike (Maignan), we will get in touch. We wanted to be calm during the World Cup and not be disturbed by other things. Now there will be time to talk calmly.”
Maignan, on the other hand, has been at the centre of plenty of rumours, with his entourage looking for interested parties. In other words, there are no guarantees about him either.
Well, these are unfounded rumours, right?
Unfortunately, when the captain deletes every mention of the club on social media, you think otherwise. We live in a world of social media, so it could just be a new start for a new season. Yet, it just doesn’t look good.
In a world where everyone analyses the smallest things on social media – which Maignan is fully aware of – he must know how this will look. So, the decision becomes even more baffling.
This is the captain of the club, too. It’s not a youth player. Firstly, then, it’s not a good example to set and secondly, it’s incredibly petulant from a 31-year-old who is meant to be the club’s biggest representative.
It just doesn’t look good, does it?
You’ve also got the fact that Maignan did not attend Franco Baresi’s funeral, too. That didn’t go down well at the time and with this extended break, it’s not really viewed in any more of a positive light.
Club at fault?
For what it’s worth, the club accepting the extended break is not really brilliant either, just because there is no benefit without confirmation of why they’ve had extended breaks.
It’s ultimately another issue which Ruben Amorim didn’t need to deal with, yet he will face questions about it before the Manchester United game – which will already be a boiling cauldron for him. Considering how big this summer was and how much scrutiny was on everyone, it just feels like a major own goal.
As the title says, it’s either an overreaction or an understandable one. We’re unsure which side of the fence is right; maybe both are. Yet, the fact that you can be torn on a matter like this 12 days before the start of the season, when the captain and the fourth most experienced player in the squad haven’t been seen, isn’t great.