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AC Milan are three games into their preseason campaign, and the record so far – at least in terms of results – is positive.
After an intra-squad friendly at Milanello against the Futuro, the Milan squad left later that day for their tour of the Far East. It began with a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in which Bukayo Saka got the only goal, though Lorenzo Torriani was the hero in the symbolic penalty shootout that followed.
That game in Singapore was followed by a cracker in Singapore, as Milan ran out 4-2 winners against the Premier League champions Liverpool. Then, a 9-0 drubbing of Perth Glory in their home stadium followed on Thursday to wrap things up.
While there are caveats to each game the 270 minutes still allowed us to get a better idea of which players have hit the ground running under Massimiliano Allegri, and who still needs to gain his trust. Below is our preseason stock market, so far.
📈 Rafael Leao
Many were eager to see how Allegri would use Leao, and while it is very early days the signs are positive. He played mostly as a striker in a front two and has been Milan’s main threat throughout the games.
His goal against Liverpool was a beauty, and the second-half brace against Perth Glory won’t have hurt. Hanging on the halfway line ready to spring into action was where he was usually spotted, and the Portuguese’s role will be very interesting to monitor.
📈 Noah Okafor
The top scorer in preseason at the moment is not in fact Leao but his potential deputy in Okafor. His double against Liverpool in Hong Kong was a very positive sign even if the second one was somewhat handed to him, and he followed it up with a couple more in Western Australia.
There are now even some reports claiming that his red-hot start have forced the management to pause and reflect about the future of the Swiss international, amid interest from Bologna above all. The next two friendlies could be decisive in that sense.
📈 Ruben Loftus-Cheek
By his own admission, Loftus-Cheek had a torturous 2024-25 season due to injuries, which made it difficult for him to gain any rhythm and subsequently any form. Nevertheless, when Allegri came in he made it clear how much he admires the Englishman.
In the first three games we have seen exactly why: physicality, energy, ball carrying and hard work in both phases. He also got a goal against Liverpool with a trademark run into the box like under Stefano Pioli, and maybe RLC could not only challenge for a full-time starting spot, but get back to that 2023-24 form.
📈 Samuele Ricci
We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves, but Ricci already looks exactly like what Milan needed. He has sat in front of the defence in all three games, acting as a filter out of possession and an assured base in the build-up play while on the ball.
Against Liverpool he had 78 minutes played, 38 touches, 26/28 passes completed (93%), 5/6 accurate long balls (83%) and 2/2 ground duels won (100%). That paints a picture of what he is about, and the rocket half-volley versus Perth was the cherry on the icing. Could he be the perfect metronome? There’s Luka Modric to arrive yet, too…
📈 Lorenzo Torriani
This is more for one game that anything, but it’s hard to deny Torriani wasn’t the star of the show in the Arsenal fixture. In the end his stat line read as follows: 24 minutes played, 5 saves, 10/10 (100%) accurate passes, 5/5 (100%) accurate long balls and 3 penalties saved.
He was the hero of the shootout by keeping the Gunners at bay, allowing Christian Comotto to score the winner. After some impressive cameos in the USA last preseason, the 20-year-old is showing that he is ready for first team minutes, most likely out on loan as things stand.
📉 Youssouf Fofana
It feels harsh to pick out ‘flops’ after a positive tour, but Fofana didn’t really do himself many favours. He wasn’t 100% fit admittedly, though when he got an opportunity against Liverpool he looked shaky on the ball, then against Perth the Frenchman was very sloppy in possession.
The midfielders will all have to fight hard for game time this season with plenty of options already and potentially another (Ardon Jashari, Javi Guerra or another name) to come, so everyone will have to be up for the fight. Fofana should play more in his natural box-to-box role, yet he will have to show better signs.
📉 Matteo Gabbia
Gabbia didn’t do anything wrong necessarily, it’s more a literal interpretation of his stock dropping. Allegri named a three-man defence in each of the first two games and the Italian was behind Fikayo Tomori, Strahinja Pavlovic and Malick Thiaw.
Since returning from Villarreal, Gabbia has been the most consistent and reliable Milan centre-back. It would feel a shame for him to be bumped down the order, though if there’s anything to be said for a new coach, it’s that it gives everyone a clean slate.
📉 Yunus Musah
Nothing new from the American in truth, who once again alternated the odd bright moment with something that was borderline sabotage. In the Arsenal game his constant giveaways invited pressure, and even in the Perth demolition he looked way off it.
When Igli Tare announced in the June press conference that the club don’t see him as part of the plans, it was probably expected that a destination would have been found by now. Instead, it feels like the American is being dragged along for a ride that nobody wants, so we hope for a solution.
📉 Davide Bartesaghi
Bartesaghi had a real chance to prove that he is ready to be the deputy left-back, after seemingly not being deemed good enough in the past couple of seasons. He didn’t really grab the chance, though.
He had two very tough assignments against Saka and Mo Salah, but he did lose the former for the only goal in the defeat to the Gunners, and needed some assistance to try and contain the latter. Far from a disaster, and he did assist Leao vs. Perth, yet it wasn’t a big step forward either.
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