While everything around Milan is in doubt at the moment, the certainty is called Tijjani Reijnders. Even if Manchester City have come calling.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) report this morning, Reijnders is contracted until the summer of 2030 after his renewal earlier this season. In his second campaign at Milan he was called to Casa Milan to pen a fresh deal, with a pay rise from €1.7m to €3.5m net per year.
Interest arises
Reijnders has rejected possible even richer proposals. Real Madrid and Manchester City hold a concrete interest in signing the Dutchman, demonstrated by the presence of scouts at Milan’s matches.
City’s were insisted. After all, Reijnders scores as much as Jude Bellingham does at Real Madrid: 13 goals for both this season. The former AZ Alkmaar alone has the same goal quota as the entire City midfield vs. Manchester United: Bernardo Silva (3 goals), Kovacic (5) and Gundogan (2).
Moreover, no one is like him in terms of reliance from the coach either. He has 3,784 minutes amassed this season across all competitions, the most in the squad after Mike Maignan, which is natural given he is a goalkeeper.
Unsellable
The new Milan will be built around Reijnders. Next to him, a physical midfielder is needed, like Youssouf Fofana, but perhaps with more consistent performances. A Santiago Gimenez-like centre-forward who facilitates his runs with movements or passes can be beneficial.
With Christian Pulisic (the second other pillar of the Rossoneri) the chemistry is evident and it has led both to their best scoring season. The two communicate well in and around the edge of the box, linking up to unlock defences.
This season, Reijnders has added three more goals for the Netherlands (the last a decisive one against Spain) and an assist. Including the haul with Milan, he is on 21 goal contributions for club and country.
Simply put, he is one of the best in Europe. Will Real and City try again in the summer? Maybe, knowing however that even if they knock on the door, Milan will not open it even slightly.
An emerging leader
In the dressing room, Reijnders is also one of the players who exposes himself the most. He was the player who showed up to speak the most after a match, whether he had to take credit or – above all – assume responsibility.
He lives in the city centre, he is often seen walking with his wife Marina and baby Xavien (the crossed arms after goals are a nod to him) through the streets of Milano. His popularity on social media has also grown: on Instagram he has almost reached the milestone of one million followers.
Above all, his market value has increased exponentially. He cost €20m to sign from AZ in the summer of 2023, today he is worth more than triple. A numerical exercise given that Milan will not want to verify the results by listening to possible offers. Even without the Champions League.
Well we don’t know for sure if he rejected Manchester City or even if Manchester City has contacted him, but assuming it’s true for me a good reason is the fact that he won’t be a guaranteed starter in the EPL side (or in Barcelona or Real Madrid as well), so an argument would be that he thought it’s better for him to take time to develop himself in a weaker, slower league, rather than go for the top dogs where his playing time might be less.
I agree with your points, I also want to add that while he is good offensively his defensive workrate leaves a lot to be desired and at these top clubs you cant get away with that because they have a good bench unlike ours and if he wont press off to the bench you go. At Milan He has literally no competition who are we going to bench him for? Genius Musah?? useless RLC? Why would he move when he is a “legend” here. With that being said he is a good player and i would like to keep him but if an high enough offer comes as well as a good DS i dont think we should be as angry as when we sold tonali who was the heart of this team.
Do you people actually think the premier league is better? Serie A and La Liga sides have been consistently outperforming the Premier League in Europe. Reijnders would walk into any squad on the planet. Out of the last 3 seasons 6 Serie A teams have made it to the Semi finals in Europe, same goes for La Liga compared to the Premier Leagues 4. If you actually think kick and run is football and that Serie A is “slow” as you say then I wonder what you’ve been watching. Juventus matches?
“Do you people actually think the premier league is better?”
More money and more respect by media etc. But which is actually better or doing better in Europe? Hard to say.
Different standard of refereeing. The EPL allows thuggish tackles that weaken and destroy finesse players. It causes EPL teams to optimize for a different skillset. Survival of the fittest. Then in the UCL, due to the European refereeing, the EPL optimized skillset isn’t optimal to winning.
now you dont know but if the newspaper said ‘Reijnders wants City, he says Milan sucks’ you would 100% believe it
10/10 fanbase man
He’s just settled in this season and also got his first born here. He’s a level headed, down to earth and well mannered lad coming from a wealthy but normal family, so I don’t think money is his primary motivator either. He earns enough, is loved among fans and a guaranteed starter. For a normal person that’s a jackpot right there.
The media are writing that Reijnders won’t listen to any offers and want to stay, if that’s true and that is just more than great. But what is the intentions of the management, if they get offer that please the. Reijnders would go straight in to whatever elite teams around Europe.