2 weeks ago
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Just over a month ago, Ismael Bennacer left AC Milan again but there was some surprise about his destination, as he headed to Dinamo Zagreb.
As Calciomercato.com recall, Bennacer was sent to Marseille on loan for the second half of last season but they then decided not to exercise their option to buy him permanently. Massimiliano Allegri made it clear he is not part of the plans, and so alternative accommodation was sought.
Bennacer ended up moving to Dinamo Zagreb – a club that had not been linked before – and the two parties are still getting to know each other, so to speak. The Algerian arrived late, considering the deal that brought him to Croatia was only finalised on September 5th.
The Croatian top flight was already five games in by that point and the Algerian midfielder also missed the sixth matchday against HNK Gorica (a home defeat for Dinamo) and the Croatian Cup match against Dinamo Predavac, a 6-0 win.
He made his official debut on September 20 in the victory away to Hajduk Split. Bennacer was brought on for the final half-hour, an initial glimpse of his form that convinced Kovacevic to give him a more prominent role.
Thus, the former Empoli man started the next two games, in the 4-1 home win over Slaven Belupo and the away defeat against NK Lokomotiva. He has always played as a mezzala with the freedom to attack in the 4-3-3 formation that Kovacevic designed for Dinamo Zagreb.
The background and the future
How did Bennacer end up in Croatia? After rejecting offers from Turkey, Bennacer accepted a transfer to Dinamo Zagreb. It is a free loan (no fee), with an option to buy that is set at €10m.
One detail of the deal concerns Bennacer’s salary, given he is tied to Milan with a contract until June 2027: it will be split between the two clubs, with the Rossoneri paying the largest portion.
In fact, the Rossoneri pay 60% of the Algerian’s €4m net salary per season, or €2.4m. Dinamo Zagreb will pay the remaining 40%, or €1.6m. For Milan this represents a gross saving of €3m.
One of the decisive factors in the negotiations for Bennacer’s move was Boban, the current president of the Croatian club but a former Milan director, and the very man who brought the Algerian to the Rossoneri in 2019, acquiring him from Empoli.
Boban is a huge fan of Bennacer, as evidenced by his sweet words about the youngster last May on Andrea Longoni’s ‘Milan Hello’ YouTube channel.
“He’s a super underrated player. The many injuries? It’s understandable. I’ve been out a lot, too, and others have been out a lot too,” he said.
“Why did they trash him in every way? Bennacer is an extraordinary, underrated player. What he’s given to Milan is exceptional. I don’t defend the choice we made on Bennacer. In fact, I even enjoy acknowledging my mistakes with the maturity I hope I have at 57.
“In fact, my defeats are what helped me understand things. Bennacer is the player who steals the most balls in the world per minute played. He’s a player who almost touches the ball more than the minutes played; he’s always on the ball. I don’t know why people don’t see that.”
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