Pellegatti on ‘unbearable’ Maignan situation: “No longer wants any dealings with Milan’s management”

Carlo Pellegatti has named the two players he would like to see arrive if AC Milan sign a new goalkeeper and striker in the coming months.

Milan made the decision to sign Christopher Nkunku towards the end of the summer transfer window, but he and Santiago Gimenez are both still on zero league goals. This has led to suggestions that the management are already scouring the market for potential options in the No.9 role.

Meanwhile, there continues to be very little positive news regarding the renewal of the captain Mike Maignan. He is believed to have been left angered by the way that the club treated him earlier in the year as a renewal offer was pulled from the table, and his deal expires in a few months.

Pellegatti’s picks

Pellegatti published his weekly column for MilanNews and dedicated part of it to a couple of gaps in the squad at opposite ends of the field, and who he believes the fixes are.

“A necessary mention of the transfer market today and tomorrow. Allegri wants – perhaps I’m exaggerating, he demands – a penalty-box striker for the second half of the season,” he began.

“In Parma, while Milan were playing on the right flank, in the second half, I took a look at the penalty area. It was empty, with Ricci—I repeat, Ricci—the only Milan player, alone like a desert Tuareg. Not good!

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“I have a favourite. It’s Jean-Philippe Mateta, a 28-year-old French striker, 192 cm tall, currently at Crystal Palace, with a contract expiring in 2027, costing €25-30m and… maybe the English like Gimenez! Is he too expensive? With all the money saved on a centre-forward in these ‘roaring twenties’, the little pig has plenty of euros to invest in a striker.

“Let’s get to tomorrow’s transfer window. The idea of ​​having one of the world’s best goalkeepers and losing him because, according to his French colleagues, he no longer wants to have any dealings with Milan’s management due to his treatment last season remains unbearable for me.

“Anyone lucky enough to field Maignan – that is, at least ten points earned in the league – and then giving him away to other clubs has no excuse. If he were to leave us, there’s only one goalkeeper left, and very soon.

“I’ve always admired Elia Caprile, who I think is a great player. I know Inter also like him, but letting the Nerazzurri steal him from us would be a grave shame.”