MP: Milan ‘get old’ as the squad average age rises after summer mercato

In recent years, AC Milan have traditionally been quite a young team. Opportunities in the mercato were taken, and players with promise were sought. 

The recent mercato plan for Milan has been quite simple. Find players who have high ceilings and try to mould them into a Rossonero. It is a method which has worked on occasions. However, for the most part, they have been underwhelming.

Charles de Ketelaere and Yunus Musah, perhaps, are the biggest examples of these signings. Youngsters with high potential, but neither delivered upon it, and now they have been moved on.

Ageing under Allegri

Massimiliano Allegri sought to overturn this methodology, though, and alongside Igli Tare, there was balance in the mercato. Ardon Jashari and David Odogu arrived as the younger players with potential.

However, Luka Modric, Adrien Rabiot and Christopher Nkunku joined, each with experience in top-level European football. In fact, there have been suggestions that the Diavolo could even continue with this methodology as a result of its success so far.

As a result of the deals this summer, MilanPress write that Milan now have the fourth-oldest squad in the league, at an average of 28.04 years old. Only Napoli, Inter and Cremonese each sit above them.