GdS: Predicted Milan XI to face Arsenal – Ricci to debut and a chance for Colombo

AC Milan make their proper preseason debut on Wednesday as they take on Arsenal in Singapore, and some team news has emerged.

In case you missed it, Allegri has named a 26-man squad for the upcoming friendlies against Premier League opponents Arsenal and Liverpool, as well as the game against Perth Glory on July 31 in Western Australia.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) reports this morning, there will be some notable absentees for the match against the Gunners. Luka Modric and Santiago Gimenez will miss out as they are still on holiday.

There are also those missing from the squad for transfer reasons (Emerson Royal and Ismael Bennacer), while both Alex Jimenez and Youssouf Fofana have suffered with discomfort in recent days and should not be risked.

How Milan will line up vs. Arsenal

Massimiliano Allegri thus appears intent on relying on new arrival Samuele Ricci as the deep-lying playmaker in the three-man midfield, while Alexis Saelemaekers will be back at right-back and Davide Bartesaghi at left-back, waiting for additions.

Without Gimenez, Lorenzo Colombo – returning from his loan at Empoli – should get a chance as the starting centre-forward, presumably alternating with Noah Okafor. Both are believed to have uncertain futures at the club, but there are no other striker options.

Mike Maignan should be in goal, Fikayo Tomori and Strahinja Pavlovic the centre-backs, Yunus Musah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in midfield, and finally Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao as the wingers.

Predicted Milan XI (4-3-3): Maignan; Saelemaekers, Tomori, Pavlovic, Bartesaghi; Musah, Ricci, Loftus-Cheek; Pulisic, Colombo, Leao.