Vitiello: Amorim’s squad ‘incomplete’ – the four things that Milan are missing
Antonio Vitiello has revealed his belief that the AC Milan squad Ruben Amorim has is not what it could have been.
Milan made a couple of big splashes early in July, signing Goncalo Ramos from PSG and Mario Gila from Lazio for a combined €100m. After a quiet period Diego Moreira joined from Strasbourg before the first game, then Omari Hutchinson was announced last night.
However, there is a general consensus that Milan’s squad is not as deep as it could be in certain areas. Another starter-level attacking midfielder was wanted by many after Rafael Leao’s sale, and another central defender was high on the list for a lot of fans and pundits too.
Vitiello: Milan’s mercato unsatisfactory
Antonio Vitiello has addressed Milan’s market in his latest column for MilanNews, and – given that it looks like nobody else will be signing – his sentiments are even more pertinent.
“We’ve reached the final day of the transfer window; tonight at 8:00pm, we’ll be able to draw a final assessment of the Rossoneri’s summer transfer window. We’re leaving a few more options open until time permits, but the chances are slim and the squad appears incomplete,” he said.
“The squad enters this season with some uncertainty, and several risks that the club and the coach have decided to take. Milan actually got off to a great start this summer, making two major signings at the end of June. They immediately acquired a strong striker and an ideal defender, resulting in a record €75m in Gonçalo Ramos from PSG, followed by another €30m for Mario Gila.
“At that point, AC Milan had two months to complete their squad, but paradoxically, in the entire months of July and August, only Diego Moreira arrived, for the whopping €50m plus bonuses. An excellent addition, but not enough to make AC Milan truly competitive.
“We’re missing another top-tier central defender, a midfielder with diverse skills who can play alongside Musah, and then there’s the question of a striker. A whole season with just Ramos and Camarda? Doesn’t that seem like a small amount?
“The coach wanted it this way, to give Francesco more space and make him feel important, but it’s still a big risk. Then, in these final hours, the Diavolo were supposed to sign a starting attacking midfielder, but instead they signed Hutchinson on loan with an option to buy from Nottingham Forest.
“A player who relies heavily on dribbling and speed between the lines, he’s certainly not the type of player that fans are thrilled with, and above all, he’s not a guaranteed move in a key position on the pitch. The left-footed attacking midfielder was pursued for several weeks; the real target was Karetsas, but in the end, the club settled on the Englishman.
“Then, even on the outgoing market, Milan earned practically nothing . All the transfers were on loan, and perhaps this was one of the problems that led the club to hold off on making the latest investments.
“Furthermore, Leao himself was sold for a fee lower than the one initially indicated by the club. In June, the figure was reported at €60m; at the end of August, he was sold for €38m plus bonuses, bringing the total to €45m. In short, they could certainly have done better on the outgoing market as well.
“Amorim has agreed on every decision with the owners, assessing their needs on a case-by-case basis. Now it’s up to him to manage this group and get results. After two truly awful years, AC Milan must return to the Champions League, but this season won’t be easy either. The hope is that the coach can manage the team well and surprise everyone with a great season.”
