2 hours ago
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There is no shying away from the fact that AC Milan have had torrid luck in the striker mercato in recent years. Now, it must change.
Whether Milan have had poor luck or made poor choices can be debated. Santiago Gimenez, on the face of it, should have done much better than he has, considering how he was scoring in the Netherlands 12 months ago.
Alvaro Morata flopped, Charles De Ketelaere was not ready for the move, the list goes on. Looking forward though, the trend cannot follow…
Pellegatti’s view
Under Massimiliano Allegri, the Rossoneri look like credible title contenders, and there is certainly a chance to progress in the future. However, an established (or even competent) No.9 must be brought to the squad.
Carlo Pellegatti spoke about the situation today, via MilanNews, and offered his opinion on who the club should get, and who may not be an option, despite recent links.
“The topic of a center-forward for January and especially for June is undoubtedly a hot one. As for January, AC Milan will be looking for a striker to make up for the lack of physicality, power, and ability to fill the penalty area, which was also lacking against Parma, for example.
“AC Milan will probably sign a striker. Forget Jonathan David, Lewandowski, or Icardi, they won’t come. I looked at how AC Milan has performed in recent seasons, since Inzaghi’s retirement, in terms of investments in center-forwards.
“I’m not counting Giroud and Ibrahimovic, who were the best, but who weren’t investments. I counted the players they cost, starting with Balotelli, the only one who, along with Carlos Bacca, would be a permanent starter today.
“Bacca is very underrated, but in his first year he scored 18 goals and in his second 14 in the league.
“I’ll read the others to you: Torres 1 goal, then there was Lapadula. Then André Silva and Kalinic arrived, for whom €60 million were spent. Total goals between the two: 8. Then it was Piatek’s turn: €35 million spent for 9 goals.
“In the 2019-2020 season there was no investment in the center forward, the same thing in the 20-21, 21-22, and 22-23 seasons. Then Okafor arrived for €14 million and scored six goals. Last year, finally, Morata and Gimenez arrived.
“When investments were made, they didn’t bear fruit. I really hope that next June they start at €50-60 million to sign a striker . €155 million have been spent in recent years, and Milan still don’t have a center forward who can take us to the top in Italy and Europe.”
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