AC Milan Club Focus: Sixteen contracts up, who stays and who goes?

Date: 19th March 2012 at 9:03am
Written by:

AC Milan face a dilemma in the summer. With about sixteen players running out of contract in June of 2012, Adriano Galliani will be burning the midnight oil, contemplating the need for these players, and the prospect they bring to the future of AC Milan. Some of these players are in the prime of their professional careers, while others are dwelling in the twilight years of their legendary lives.

Alberto Aquilani, Sulley Muntari, Maxi Lopez and Mathieu Flamini also figure in this list of sixteen. Aquilani is edging ever so close to the twenty-five appearances figure, which puts Milan in an obligatory position to purchase him from Liverpool Football Club. A silky footballer with finesse at his feet, Aquilani can add the much needed depth to this squad (provided he stays fit).

Muntari is a solid box-to-box midfielder, adding grit and steel to the midfield. The experiment undertaken by Galliani in January appears to be offering dividends with the passing of every game. He fits into Max Allegri’s system seamlessly. The Ghanaian could become another depth addition, capable of making a strong appeal for a first-team spot on a more permanent basis, given his skill-set and his attributes.

Lopez is set to continue on his travels, it seems. The Argentine has failed to convince Allegri and is quickly running out of time. He carries a price tag of €7 million, an amount Milan are unlikely to part with, and rightly so. I think those millions can be put to better use.

Flamini the Frenchman arrived at Milan in 2008 with a lot of promise, much of which is still unfulfilled. Antonio Nocerino’s emergence usurped the tag of being the heir to Gennaro Gattuso from the former Gunner. If Fla-money signs a new contract with reduced wages, he would push Nocerino for a starting spot week-in, week-out. However, should he waltz to the flirtation from PSG, few will shed a tear.

Gattuso is one of the golden oldies awaiting a renewal. The old terrier still has some fight left in his aging bones and the leadership he naturally offers this team is invaluable. Signing him for a year, especially when he is willing to play for free, will do Milan no harm.

Adding to the illustrious names in midfield is that of Mark van Bommel. Few expected him to cement a place in the first-team, but he did. In his absence, Milan are perennially vulnerable, especially on the counter. He may lack the legs, but his in-game intelligence is second to none for an anchor man.

Galliani’s scouts are unlikely to find a suitable alternative to the Dutchman within the next four months, unless the Berlusconi family willing risks a family row over an expensive signature. Offering the hard-man another year will quite literally buy Milan some time.

Massimo Ambrosini, Clarence Seedorf, Mario Yepes, Gianluca Zambrotta, Filippo Inzaghi and Massimo Oddo are well past their due date. Some of these legends can be replaced, if need be. But their significance to the first team has dwindled, and surely, they are no more than fringe players at this point.

Finally, the metronome, Alessandro Nesta. For an injury plagued star, Nesta remained fit for large chunks of this season. In his absence, Philippe Mexes capably filled in. With growing rumours of Davide Astori’s arrival in June, Nesta’s future remains uncertain. Signing the veteran on a year-long contract prevents the occurrence of a gaping hole in the heart of defense. Along with slowing the pace of the natural evolution of Milan’s centre-back partnership, Nesta could take Astori under his wing, offering the young defender the much needed tutelage.

Galliani’s task is cut out for him. This transfer window can shape Milan’s future for the next three-five years. The old guard will give way to be replaced by some fresh blood. Milan’s core is being rebuilt. Care and caution must be exercised due to the precarious situation Milan find themselves in. Consequential times, these.

Follow Rajath Kumar on Twitter: @rajathkumar and be sure to check out his AC Milan blog as well.

For all the latest Serie A news don’t forget to check out the news section of Forza Italian Football.

Join Forza Italian Football on Twitter and Facebook.


We are always looking for new writers, so if you think you know Calcio, email us: forzaitalianfootball@snack-media.com

 

5 responses to “AC Milan Club Focus: Sixteen contracts up, who stays and who goes?”

  1. Drew Farmer says:

    I read today that Flamini is the second highest paid player at Milan. That’s got to be wrong.

  2. Padraig Whelan says:

    Of those you mentioned Rajath, there aren’t many I would keep on. Aquilani, Muntari, MvB, and Nesta. Possibly Seedorf but there does need to be an overhaul this summer.

    With players like Nocerino, KPB, Emanuelson etc all coming in now there is less need to keep so many players like Gattuso, Ambrosini etc on the wage bill.

  3. Rory Hanna says:

    I wouldn’t keep Aquilani, I’m not sure he quite cuts the mustard. Van Bommel is certainly worth keeping, as is Seedorf – I reckon he can still offer something as a substitute and occasional starter, as long as his wages aren’t too high. Nesta likewise, though with a greater role than Seedorf.

    To be honest I agree with most of Rajath’s judgements, except that I’m not too bothered about Aquilani.

  4. David Rayner says:

    I think that Lopez, Muntari, Aquilani and Flamini should stay as they all have the skills and experience to carry the next generation forward.

    Nesta, Gattuso, F.Inzaghi, Yepes, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Zambrotta, Van Bommel and Oddo would do well at clubs outside the top 6 but just don’t have the elgs to compete with the likes of Inter, Juventus, Roma and Napoli at the minute.

    That’s just my two pennies worth….

  5. Nick Zdan says:

    I would only keep Nesta, Van Bommel and flamini/muntari on reduced wages. There is no way we cannot field a younger, more competitive side then we’ve seen with the likes of Ambro, seedorf and Gattuso…