MN: A ‘€90m collapse’ – Supercoppa raises questions about Milan’s summer business

More question marks are being asked about AC Milan’s summer window after their failure to deliver in recent outings.

MilanNews report that the squad left to return to Italy this morning and they did so with many more question marks surrounding their squad compared to what they arrived with. Another target has slipped away with the 2-0 Supercoppa Italiana defeat to Napoli, and they speak of a ‘€90m collapse’.

If you look closely, the backbone of the starting lineup chosen by Massimiliano Allegri last night represents the podium of the three transfers that Milan paid the most between July and August: Koni De Winter (€18m), Ardon Jashari (€35m) and Christopher Nkunku (€37m).

Adding those together results in €90m on the pitch spread across all three roles. While it’s true that figures do not take to the field, it’s equally true that these expenses need to be justified and, at the moment, they are not proving to be worth the investment.

Tests failed

The decision to replace Malick Thiaw with De Winter looks worse with each passing week. The former Genoa player hasn’t played a single match without technical errors that have cost Milan in some way.

In his last two games alone, the Belgian has been at least partly responsible for Sassuolo’s equaliser (where he didn’t intervene on Pinamonti, who then set up Laurienté) and for Napoli’s two goals last night, where he was bullied by Hojlund.

As Gabbia’s replacement, he’s not performing well, which is why Allegri wants another central defender (Thiago Silva above all). Besides, in an ideal Milan, De Winter should be Fikayo Tomori’s back-up, not the first substitution for all three central defenders.

Photos: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Last night’s big news was Jashari starting in place of Luka Modric. A courageous choice by Allegri, who not only rested the Croatian (who had looked dull in recent matches) but rightly wanted to give the former Brugge player his first test in a big game.

It was a timid outing with more horizontal movement of the ball and very little vertical, making Milan’s play seem sterile and predictable. He lacks match rhythm in his legs and mind which is understandable, but for now it means Modric must work overtime or there is a drop-off.

Nkunku meanwhile is the symbol of what Milan are lacking up front. He sent a shot at the roof of the stand wasting Milan’s biggest counter-attacking opportunity last night, even if the pass from Alexis Saelemaekers wasn’t the best.

The feeling of resignation reached a fever pitch, almost as if we are now accustomed to seeing certain mistakes. On the other side, Hojlund condemned Milan to elimination, having been strongly linked in the summer.