Cristante – AC Milan
Serie A action returned to San Siro on Monday, and following a dismal showing in the first-half of the season, before the customary winter break, Kaka gave the home crowd a late Christmas gift by celebrating his 100th and 101st goals in an AC Milan shirt.
More importantly, the Brazilian’s brace set-up a 3-0 victory over Atalanta, which in turn dragged Massimiliano Allegri’s side to 11th in the table. The third goal was scored by 18-year-old Bryan Cristante.
Cristante, who joined Allegri’s first-team squad at the beginning of the season, is a graduate from AC Milan’s prestigious Primavera. The fact that he has already made history – he became the youngest ever Milan player to feature in a Champions League match when he replaced Robinho in December 2011 away at Viktoria Plzen – has justifiably drawn expectation from supporters.
But Allegri is keen to stop Cristante becoming a star before he has delivered. “Let’s not forget he is very young, as he’s only 18,” Milan’s head coach told Sky Sport Italia after the Atalanta victory. “Cristante is a young player who must be given time to grow without pressure.
“Obviously at Milan you have to grow up quicker.”
A statement only M’baye Niang and goalkeeper Gabriel know too well. Last campaign, Niang, then the same age as Cristante, was thrust under the San Siro spotlight, sparking talk of the French forward, Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy forming a dynamic youthful front trio.
But Niang, despite his 20 appearances in Serie A, could only muster two goals and was thrust instead under the media spotlight for criticism that was potentially damaging. Niang’s one-v-one miss against Barcelona at Nou Camp was heavily lamented, with commentators eluding that had he scored Milan would have been in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Niang joined Montpellier on loan this month.
“Last season Niang was treated by some like a phenomenon, but he’s just a teenager, so there are bound to be peaks and troughs,” said Allegri on Monday.
“The same is true of Gabriel, as after one game the media said Milan had found their goalkeeper for the next 15 years, then a week later he was considered hopeless.”
Young musicians want to play in the best orchestras though, and Cristante’s atmospheric experience to Kaka’s centurion moment against Atalanta will only inspire.
Allegri has a duty of balance when it comes to implementing the young Italian midfielder. The Rossoneri coach conceded that he had considered Cristante for the Derby della Madonnina, which Milan lost, and the match versus Roma earlier in the season. He was right though in granting Cristante his first Serie A start in front of a half-empty stadium.
“It was an emotional game, my first match at the San Siro, but Balotelli told me to stay calm ahead of the match,” Cristante told Milan’s official website.
“I was available for selection for the derby, but the coach made other choices. I try to work as best I can and show what I can do. That’s what I have to do.”
Balotelli’s words of wisdom should be an example to other senior figureheads in the dressing room. Keisuke Honda’s arrival from CSKA Moscow should aid, not hinder, Cristante’s development on and off the pitch if the Japanese international follows Balotelli’s footsteps. Allegri’s second duty is to guarantee that Cristante plays with the Rossoneri’s best midfielders, not just watch them.
Adriano Galliani insisted that Allegri would be given the opportunity to carry out his duty of care when he announced that Cristante would not be going out on loan for the remainder of the season. The 18-year-old has been linked with Atletico Madrid, Genoa and Parma but Galliani is determined to ensure that Milan’s youth bring the joy that has been lacking in the Rossoneri season so far.
“He’s going nowhere. I have already spoken to him and his agent and he won’t be moving,” Galliani told the club’s official website.
“He’ll carve out some space for himself here at AC Milan. We’re starting to bring some youth players through to the first team and that’s pleasing.”
The first-half of Milan’s Serie A campaign was a circus. 2014, while only being a game old, has started positively due to a nostalgic moment from Kaka, three welcomed points, and the unknown provocative potential of Bryan Cristante. His home debut against Atalanta on January 6 was a rare moment of enjoyment in the furore surrounding Milan and Allegri this season. He must be kept away from the circus and the berating crowd.
He needs protection, but also exposure; the man responsible is Massimiliano Allegri. The former Cagliari coach intends to finish his San Siro reign with a flourish, if league position doesn’t guarantee that, Cristante’s development can.
