GdS: Giroud the ‘exception’ – Milan’s complicated recent history with striker signings

AC Milan have struggled to find a reliable number nine in recent years, and they hope that Victor Boniface will buck the trend.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below), Milan’s No.9 shirt has been ‘cursed’ since Pippo Inzaghi’s days, with one exception: Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman was the star of the 2021-22 Scudetto-winning team and a key man until the last day of his contract.

The oddity is that Olivier, then a top-tier striker, arrived as a deputy to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Only Zlatan’s injury allowed him to take a step up in the pecking order. Once Giroud said goodbye, it feels like there has been something lacking.

Recent examples

Last season’s squad included six strikers, in various capacities. Alvaro Morata was supposed to be the starter, acquired from Atletico Madrid for less than €15m. He lasted six months. In January, he moved on loan to Galatasaray and now to Como without returning to Milan.

The spot was then filled by Santi Gimenez, who remains an unknown quantity. Other attempts have already been rejected. Divock Origi suffered a significant failure, close to having his contract terminated after a virtually nonexistent contribution: two goals for Milan in 36 games.

An unsuccessful attempt to bounce back at Nottingham Forest followed, and last season he stayed at home. He earns a salary of €4.5m net per year, and there is talk of a mutual termination.

Tammy Abraham was signed on loan from Roma a year ago. His 10 goals in 44 games weren’t deemed enough to warrant renegotiations with the Giallorossi, so he made a stopover in the capital, then headed to Turkey to join Besiktas.

Luka Jovic also didn’t earn a contract renewal. He left as a free agent, signing for AEK Athens. The sixth player was Francesco Camarda, too young for such responsibilities. Milan loaned him to Lecce precisely to get him back more mature at the end of the season.

The story

These attempts add to the older precedents (from Destro to Fernando Torres via Luiz Adriano) and speak of instability in the penalty box. Not even the youngsters (Lazetic, bought for €4.5m and now at Aberdeen, Scotland) or the experienced Mario Mandzukic lived up to expectations.

This list of examples, however, does not and has not discouraged a new challenge. Boniface has unquestionable qualities, but the physical uncertainty is crucial. And Milan, to push for the title, need a guaranteed scorer of goals.

Between Santi Gimenez, the adapted Rafa Leao, and the new Boniface – if the deal goes through – Allegri might not feel 100% covered.