MN: The man in the middle – why Gabbia has become ‘untouchable’ for Allegri

AC Milan knew they had to fix their defence after disappointing recent seasons, and Massimiliano Allegri has chosen to trust Matteo Gabbia.

As MilanNews write, the change from a four-man defence to a three-man back line has actually aided Gabbia, given that he is the stand-out candidate to play in the middle. After a six-month loan spell at Villarreal in the second half of 2023, he returned to Italy and has never looked back.

Gabbia has gone from a youth academy product treated almost like a mascot and used only in emergency situations, to a fully-fledged player with character and personality. The six months away from home and family have allowed him to take a leap forward, it seems.

An added leader

No one would dream of talking about Gabbia as if he were a phenomenon, but his normality and his consistency stand out in a department that has seen and been through a lot in recent years. Lately, even without the armband, he has often and willingly spoken as captain.

After Milan-Monza – the final match of last season that saw Milan finish eighth in the league – Gabbia didn’t mince his words, stating: “Here at Milan we never lack anything. We have to take our responsibilities, focus on the pitch and do much better than this year.

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

“I think it’s right that those who really want to stay stay here. I haven’t seen anyone who wants to leave, but it’s important that those who stay here give their all and have nothing else on their mind but Milan, and focus on doing the best they can on the pitch and at Milanello every week.”

Gabbia is one of those players who embodies ‘Milanismo’, the sense of belonging which many think has been missing. The last-minute winner in the derby last September was the icing on the cake after a recent rise, which included a contract extension until 2029 in November.

Matteo now anchors the defence in the middle. He talks a lot with his teammates and together with Maignan, he confidently leads the defensive line, adjusting its height and calling his team-mates into the right positions. At the moment, he’s ‘untouchable’ for Allegri, which shows his maturation.