‘Missed a splendid opportunity’ – Pellegatti believes Milan may regret not trying for Leoni

Journalist Carlo Pellegatti believes that AC Milan should have tried harder to sign Giovanni Leoni from Parma.

Malick Thiaw’s sale to Newcastle United was made official in the last few hours, and Milan will get around €40m from the departure of the German. However, it was immediately apparent that they needed to reinvest that sum (or part of it) to replace him.

Koni De Winter looks to be the chosen target. He underwent a medical on Tuesday and should soon be announced in what will be a €20m operation with Genoa. A section of fans wanted Milan to invest bigger though, to get Leoni from Parma, who now could be Liverpool-bound.

‘Missed a splendid opportunity’

Pellegatti published his weekly column for MilanNews and, in addition to talking about the rebuilding of the midfield, he focused on the player he thinks could and should have replaced Malick Thiaw.

“I believe Milan missed a splendid opportunity by not bringing to Milanello an absolute great prospect, Giovanni Leoni,” he said (via MilanNews).

“Certainly young, certainly still an unknown quantity at the highest levels, perhaps a risk, but I don’t have to teach the masters of finance that every transaction has an inherent element of uncertainty.

“€30m is a significant sum, but perhaps more absorbable, on an emotional level, after having secured €42m, which became €52m after the sale of Morata and could transform into €80m if Musah were to be sold to Nottingham Forest.”