After much many promises of investment, much trials and tribulations, and mostly lots of embarrassment, the Rossoneri have finally announced their first big signing of this mercato.
After failing to entice the likes of Jackson Martinez or Geoffrey Kondogbia to the Stadio Meazza, AC Milan finally announced Andrea Bertolacci as their first significant signing of the summer transfer window on Monday.
The Rossoneri handed over €20 million to Serie A rivals Roma for the 24-year-old, possibly to appease the Milanisti with a show of intent, and it could become a costly few months with Carlos Bacca also set to join for €30m.
With the Giallorossi securing the Italian international from Genoa — where he has been posted the last three seasons — for just €8.5m, the profit made from the Rossoneri must have seemed like a ‘no-brainer’.
What some conveniently forget when lambasting the fee, though, is that the capital club purchased just 50 percent of the midfielder’s registration. By that very logic Bertolacci’s market value was €17m, albeit just a week earlier.
Although, those who disparaged him must instead question why a midfielder of such ‘value’ (monetary at least) is deemed surplus to requirements for a club where resources will be stretched as they look to make a greater impact in the Champions League.
However, despite the laudable efforts of Giacomo Bonaventura last season, AC Milan were seriously lacking creativity from central areas at times last season. Furthermore, the industry of Andrea Poli and Nigel De Jong were not enough to replace the more refined passing of the injured Riccardo Montolivo.
Too often the Rossoneri were left to depend on the mercurial talents of Jeremy Menez, who was by far their leading scorer with 16 Serie A goals last term.
Although Montolivo should play a more prominent role, he has sometimes disappointed since becoming captain and will turn 31 midway through the 2015-16 campaign.
With new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic expected to opt for his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, Bertolacci could prove to be exactly what the Rossoneri have been missing in the role of deep-lying playmaker alongside enforcer De Jong.
Comprising excellent reserves of energy that supplement a crisp passing game and desire to drive the team forward, the ex-Grifone midfielder now looks a more appealing option than a man past his prime.
One would simply hope that his price tag, or the Rossoneri’s aspirations to reclaim a Champions League place or even a Europa League spot, doesn’t weigh to heavily on Bertolacci’s shoulders.
Legendary AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi has not helped matters though — refusing to comment on the financial leverage it took to secure the midfielder — but softened the blow by suggesting that a transfer policy directed at purchasing star names have had a detrimental effect on the team.
The San Siro crowd will also have to ignore the size of the fee from initial judgements on what Bertolacci can bring to the team, and instead give him time to grow with a side that could be much changed under Mihajlovic.
Of course they will want immediate results, and although it will not be difficult to improve on last year’s disastrous campaign, it will be some time before they are punching their weight again in Serie A and abroad.
While the amount laid out for Bertolacci is not ideal, it is a shrewd signing that will aid the long-term growth and success of the team; indeed, it could look worth every cent and sooner rather than most might think.
