Category: Ac Milan FC

 

Milan set the selling price of Theo Hernandez: Imminent departure?

AC Milan has set a minimum price of 50 million euros to sell Theo Hernández, one of the most outstanding left-backs in European football. This move has sparked the interest of clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid, who could compete for his signing in the upcoming winter transfer market.

 

Since his arrival at the rossonero team in 2019, the Frenchman has proven to be a key player, combining defensive solidity with impressive offensive ability. In nearly 250 matches with Milan, Hernández has scored 31 goals and provided 41 assists, numbers that highlight his impact on the team’s game. Furthermore, his performance was crucial in establishing himself as a starter in the French national team from 2021 onwards.

 

Real Madrid and Manchester United Want Theo Hernández

Manchester United’s interest lies in the need to strengthen the left-back position, weakened by Luke Shaw’s recurring injuries. Meanwhile, Real Madrid is considering options due to uncertainties about the future of Ferland Mendy and the performance of Fran García. Hernández, with his experience and proven quality, emerges as an ideal choice for both European giants.

 

However, meeting AC Milan’s demanded figure will not be straightforward. While Manchester United faces financial constraints, Real Madrid might also be cautious about disbursing a significant amount. The situation tests both clubs’ willingness to secure a player with a contract running until mid-2026.

 

The outcome of this negotiation will be crucial in determining Theo Hernández’s next destination, a player who continues to attract attention in the elite realm of world football.

 

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Milan fijó el precio de venta de Theo Hernández: ¿Salida inminente?

 

On the eve of AC Milan vs. Red Star Belgrade, we have a good idea of the team that may take to the field tomorrow, however, there are still some decisions to be made.

 

Paulo Fonseca hinted at some changes to be made in his press conference earlier this afternoon, and it seems that decisions are yet to be made in some areas of the pitch with some ballots still remaining.

 

Mike Maignan will remain in between the sticks, as will Matteo Gabbia and Malick Thiaw in front of him, with Theo Hernandez remaining on the left flank, as Milan News suggests. However, Davide Calabria should return from the first minute, despite earlier suggestions that Emerson would start.

 

In midfield, it should not come as a surprise, but Tijjani Reijnders and Youssouf Fofana will be entrusted with controlling the game with Ruben Loftus-Cheek sitting in front of them.

 

Rafael Leao will not face competition from Noah Okafor to start – given the Swiss winger is struggling with a back injury. However, there is a decision to be made on the right: Yunus Musah may be slightly preferred currently, but Chukwueze is making an argument for his inclusion.

 

Then, Alvaro Morata will lead the line.

 

Probable Milan XI vs. Red Star (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Gabbia, Theo; Fofana, Reijnders; Musah, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Morata.

 

As always, our full preview for the match is available, covering the team news, key stats and players to watch.

 

AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca will have to do without Christian Pulisic for at least the next game, so he is studying how to replace him.

 

As La Gazzetta dello Sport report today, it is a ‘cruel’ development for Fonseca, who had just settled on a first choice starting line-up with Yunus Musah as a ‘balancer’ on the right, Pulisic down the middle and Rafael Leao on the left.

 

The American went off during the game against Atalanta with a calf issue and he will have scans today to understand the extent of the damage. He will certainly not be back against Red Star on Wednesday, with Genoa on Sunday at risk too.

 

The ideas to replace him

The most simple change is to play Ruben Loftus-Cheek as attacking midfielder and everyone stays in their place. It is no coincidence that Fonseca did it when Pulisic asked for a substitution during the first half of Atalanta-Milan.

 

Yes, but Loftus-Cheek is playing way below his level, while Pulisic and RLC are very different types of player. The American is a creative, he scores, he reads situations very well, he accelerates whenever he can.

 

Loftus-Cheek is more physical but does not change pace much, nor does he seem to have the same goal scoring touch. The Englishman appears to be in a crisis of confidence and now it is not so easy to trust him. He will have minutes, that is clear, but will he be a starter? Maybe not.

 

la gazzetta dello sport 9 december

Samuel Chukwueze, on the bench, is raring to go. In the 0-0 against Juventus fans would have liked to see him earlier and in Bergamo he only came on in the 90th minute, after Lookman’s goal had just made it 2-1.

 

With him for Pulisic, Milan would effectively become a 4-3-3: Chukwueze and Leao wide, Musah-Fofana-Reijnders in the middle (with Loftus-Cheek competing for a place with Yunus). They would need to find a new balance but the team on paper would be unpredictable and physical enough.

 

The third idea: Milan won the derby with Alvaro Morata as an atypical attacking midfielder and Tammy Abraham as a striker. In 10 days, Fonseca will face Stella Rossa, Genoa and Verona, who will all defend deep. Why not occupy the area with a pure No.9 and play with two real strikers?

 

On the right, you could choose between Chukwueze and Musah, without taking into account that this plan C would give meaning to the presence of Noah Okafor, who has played less than 500 minutes this season. The issue would be the balance of the team, a common theme.

 

There was some controversy involved in AC Milan’s 2-1 defeat to Atalanta last night, as pointed out by Paulo Fonseca. Charles De Ketelaere scored against his old club, but experts agree that the goal should have been disallowed.

 

Fonseca was livid with the referees after the game and made that very clear in his interview after the game. Above all, he pointed out that the fist goal was an obvious foul on Theo Hernandez by De Ketelaere, as the latter basically climbed up the left-back.

 

Luca Marelli, the former referee and current expert for DAZN, said the following about the incident (via MilanNews)…

 

“The referee evaluates the intensity of the push, VAR cannot intervene. But in my opinion, this was a goal that should have been disallowed on the pitch: De Ketelaere’s action of leaning on his hands is irregular because it doesn’t allow Theo Hernandez to make the movement he wanted to make,” he stated.

 

Former referee Gianpaolo Calvarese added to the discussion and agreed with Marelli: “A header from De Ketelaere, who beats Maignan on a set piece. Although the Belgian jumps high, he immediately leans on Theo with both hands and prevents him from jumping by going into a tackle,” he stated.

 

Foul or no foul, the feeling is still that Milan should have done a lot better on the pitch. They are now 12 points behind Atalanta in the standings and could also find it difficult to challenge for the Champions League.

 

There has been a lot of talk about Tijjani Reijnders’ form and Yunus Musah’s role, but Christian Pulisic will be the main man for AC Milan against Atalanta.

 

That is according to Corriere dello Sport (seen below), which writes this morning about how Pulisic is the ‘extra man’ to hurt an Atalanta side that seem unbeatable. Pulisic is Milan’s ‘anti-Gasp’ in view of tonight’s match at the Gewiss Stadium.

 

It is not just because of his fantastic numbers, either. The USA international will be a tactical key, because – as Paulo Fonseca highlighted in his pre-match press conference – Atalanta play an aggressive man-to-man style.

 

Thus, the former Chelsea man will in fact operate between the lines in a role created specifically for him by Fonseca, who has always wanted him there since the beginning of the season because he is more decisive in tight spaces than the other options.

 

With eight goals and six assists in 19 games played so far, it would be fair to say he has continued his outstanding form. In general, no player has done better than him in Italy since he arrived last summer (23 goals and 17 assists).

 

corriere dello sport pulisic atalanta

However, he hasn’t scored in the league for exactly two months, the away game against Fiorentina more precisely. What could help him tonight is having the license to roam and drag the La Dea defenders around, given they must stick to man-on-man assignments.

 

If he can find the right position to receive the ball and then continue doing what he does best, then Milan might get some joy against the team that have won eight in a row.