Why Jose Sosa can be a hit with AC Milan

Date: 30th August 2016 at 8:29am
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He was slandered and ridiculed before even stepping foot on the pitch, but AC Milan fans ought to be patient with Jose Sosa, as statistics alone show the former Besiktas star can at the very least bring much needed creativity.

sosa

It is hardly a secret that AC Milan have been going through a transition period in recent years. Frivolous spending and a lack of a progress in European competitions has issued in a time for tightening the belt. Time and time again the fans have needed to accept shortcomings not just in the league standings, but also the transfer market. Free signings and a misplaced faith in youngsters that only seems to result in the brightest and best being sold on, leading to widespread disillusionment. The imminent arrival of new investors has raised the expectation of fans, but much to their collective annoyance the club signed Jose Sosa from Besiktas for €7.5 million.

Hardly a household name, the 31 year-old has managed just over 100 appearances for European clubs; Bayern Munich, Napoli and Atletico Madrid respectively. A prominent figure in his native Argentina, his five years with Estudiantes were very successful; helping Los Pincharratas to their first league title since 1983. Uninspiring stints in Europe followed, including a single season at the Stadio San Paolo with Napoli, before finally getting his act together with Metalist Kharkiv. He would join Atletico Madrid on loan and enjoyed, albeit briefly, the highest point of his career in helping Atleti lift the La Liga title; as well as playing in the Champions League final.

sosa atl

Curiously, his spell with Atletico Madrid saw him play against AC Milan. When the two sides met in the last 16 of the Champions League, he would sit out the first leg on the bench, but made an 18 minute cameo appearance in the second leg; ample time to set up Raul Garcia as the Rossoneri crashed out of the competition. It may have been his only assist in the tournament for Atleti, but a further five followed in just 15 La Liga appearances. Surprising then that his bright but brief introduction to Spanish football wasn’t continued. Just six months after pitching up in Madrid, the Argentine found himself on his way to Turkey, specifically Besiktas.

The Istanbul giants hadn’t won the Super Lig title in six years, finishing third the previous campaign despite having arguably the strongest side in the country. Sosa managed eight assists and five goals in 27 appearances for his new club, finishing third again, but made the top ten list for the number of assists; two more than any other Besiktas player that season. His final stint with the Istanbul side was undoubtedly his best in competitive football. In 31 appearances for the eventual Super Lig champions he scored seven goals and created 12, finishing all competitions with the grand total of nine scored and 14 assists.

jose sosa

Comparatively speaking, Sosa has equalled the assist totals of Miralem Pjanic and Dimitri Payet; albeit in a less competitive league. He may be the wrong side of 30, with Milan professing a fresh approach to youth integration in the team, his signing does certainly bring a degree of hypocrisy. However, to find someone who can bring his level of creativity at a young age will certainly be a costly operation; the kind Milan aren’t able to involve themselves in at this present time. True, the €7.5m fee is on the hefty side by comparison to more recent signings, but the Rossoneri hierarchy are convinced they’ve bagged the best player from the Turkish league last season.

Previous coaches at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza have sought to resolve Milan’s issues with star strikers. From Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Mario Balotelli and presently Carlos Bacca, striker have been tasked with not only scoring goals, but making them for themselves. As a result a disjointed environment has emerged and midfielders lacking any real creative edge have dominated the first team. For all his previous experience, Riccardo Montolivo has not lived up to the hype from his time at Fiorentina, and simply isn’t the man to instigate attacks for the Rossoneri. It is vitally important these lessons be learned and proper action is taken to provide the strikers chances.

Vincenzo Montella, the resident Milan boss, is known to prefer an offensive style of play and was thought to have requested Sosa. If anyone can integrate the Argentine into the team and get the best out of him, Montella would most certainly be the man. At a time like this, Milan fans can’t afford to be picky.

 

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